Dewan Mandir resonates with devotion, classical grace and spirit of Janmashtami, Krishnendu Saha’s Odissi brings Krishna’s divine stories alive

• “Krishna Arpanam” beautifully united spirituality, art and tradition: Suresh Kumar Sharma
• Hundreds of devotees witness a grand Janmashtami celebration

JAMMU, September 05: The historic Mandir Shri Vaikunth Chaturmurti (Laxmi Narayan Ji Maharaj), popularly known as Dewan Mandir, turned into a vibrant centre of devotion and classical art on the auspicious occasion of Shri Krishna Janmashtami, as hundreds of devotees and art lovers gathered to witness an evening of music, dance and devotional expression.

Situated in the heart of Jammu city, the temple offered a magnificent setting for “Krishna Arpanam”, a special devotional presentation led by acclaimed Odissi exponent Krishnendu Saha along with artistes from Nrityormi School of Odissi, Udaipur.

The presentation featured Aavahani, Dashavtar, Chandan Yatra, Krishna Nivedan and Moksha Mangalam, along with the soulful Meera Bhajans “Hari Tum Haro Jan Ki Peer” and “Govind Leeno Mol”. Through powerful abhinaya, intricate footwork and graceful movements, the artistes created a captivating journey through devotion and the many facets of Lord Krishna's divine persona.

The beautifully illuminated stage, set before the divine presence of Lord Satyanarayan Ji, added to the grandeur of the evening. The audience remained completely absorbed in the presentation, with the artistes receiving prolonged applause and a standing ovation.

The Dashavtar presentation proved to be a particular highlight. Krishnendu Saha's portrayal of the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu, marked by remarkable control, energy and expressive depth, drew an especially enthusiastic response from the gathering.

Adding to the evening's artistic richness, Dr Priya Dutta, renowned Kathak exponent, joined Krishnendu Saha for the Meera Bhajans, bringing together the expressive traditions of Kathak and the grace of Odissi. Sakshi Rathore, Srishti Pandey, Ketaki Mundra and Madhupa Chatterjee also joined Krishnendu Saha in the presentation, contributing to its visual appeal and ensemble strength.

After a long time, Jammu witnessed a Janmashtami celebration of such artistic grandeur through the medium of Indian classical dance. The sight of hundreds of devotees watching the performances in complete attention, many remaining seated through the presentation, made the evening particularly memorable.

The celebrations continued through the night, with local artists, kirtan mandalis and devotional groups presenting bhajans and devotional renditions, keeping the temple precincts filled with music and spiritual fervour.

The programme was organised under the guidance of Shri Suresh Kumar Sharma, Commissioner-cum-Receiver, who appreciated Krishnendu Saha and the participating artistes for their presentation.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Suresh Kumar Sharma said, “Janmashtami is a celebration of devotion and our timeless cultural heritage. To witness such a graceful presentation in the sacred presence of Lord Satyanarayan Ji at Dewan Mandir was truly special. The artists beautifully demonstrated how classical dance can become an expression of prayer and devotion.”

He further said, “Our temples are not only places of worship but also living centres of our cultural heritage. ‘Krishna Arpanam’ brought together spirituality, art and tradition in a way that connected deeply with the people. The response from Jammu has been truly heartening.”

Krishnendu Saha, a senior disciple of Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee Guru Sharmila Biswas, is a prominent Odissi dancer and the Founder & Director of Nrityormi School of Odissi, Udaipur. A graded artiste of Doordarshan and recipient of the Nalanda Nritya Nipuna Award, he has performed at several prestigious platforms across India and has also been associated with SPIC MACAY for promoting Odissi through lecture-demonstrations.