KUMARI dance is one of the most ancient classical dances of the nation and dedicated to living Goddess “Kumari. We group of 5 girls nominated for the kumari dance in our Annual day 2018. Initially I was really scared to even rehearse, because the dance form is totally different. I never did classical dance. I was nervous and worried I might not justify the dance steps, “mudra” might not be perfect. But after the practice of around 2 months we prepared to perform in final day. Totally new experience this time with immense costumes and makeover.
In Nepal, a Kumari is a girl selected from the Shakya or Bajracharya caste and generally worshipped on certain festivals like ‘Navaratri’, ‘Durga Puja’ and ‘Indra Jatra’. During the famous festival in Kathmandu ‘Indra Jatra’, the living goddess Kumari decorated with spectacular magnificent ornaments and taken around the old Kathmandu in a buggy. And thousands of devotees pray to her, including the King of Nepal and the members of royal family. Widely believed that kumari is incarnation of goddess ‘Taleju’.
Every year, we had annual event with entertainment and excitement because we try to make it grand and special with performances like dance, skit and songs. Here I am talking about the dance form that we performed on November 2018 in Annapurna Hotel, ‘Kumari Charya dance’. Full length red dress and hair tied as topknot like a pagoda to hold the heavy crown and eyes heavy with ‘kajal’ having third eye of the wisdom on forehead is the look of kumari. We had to carry gigantic ornaments as well, crown in head, ear rings, bangles, necklaces, belts, and anklets. Just before the actual spin in stage when we performed behind the stage my necklace broke and that added more consciousness during the show. The postures and finger positions (mudras) in the dance have significant meanings and they should be done exactly as defined. Along with ‘mudra’, look of an aggression should be maintained which I tried my best to justify. Song is all in Sanskrit language so hard to understand what exactly the feel of lyrics.
Before the final show, we have to go to many steps like dance form selection, then proper song for the dance and then interested participants finalization. After prerequisite done rehearsal every day during lunch hour and then dress selection, dress rehearsal, stage rehearsal eventually final presentation. I must say that the overall experience was
spectacularly wonderful.
