An evening of Bharatanatyam dance performance by Ms. Ganna Smirnova was organized on 12 August. Shri Anil Trigunayat, Deputy Deputy Chief of Mission Shri Anil Trigunayat and Mrs. Anupama Trigunayat graced the occasion. Ms. Ganna Smirnova is one of the leading Bharatanatyam dancers outside India and running her dance school “Nakshatra” in Kyiv and has been an ICCR scholar of Bharatanatyam.

The program began with traditional lighting of lamp by Shri and Smt. Trigunayat and Ms. Smirnova. In his address to the audience, Shri Anil Trigunayat, Deputy Chief of Mission Shri Anil Trigunayat and Mrs. Anupama Trigunayat appreciated the work being done by Ms. Smirnova to promote Indian culture.

Ms. Smirnova introduced her book on Bharatanatyam entitled “Temple Dances – Traditions, Philosophy and Legends” and presented a copy of the book to Shri Trigunayat. Thereafter, she presented a slide show of her collection of photographs of temples of south India, bass and relief work on these temples and their depiction of ancient forms of dances, prepared by her during her stay and performances in India on ICCR scholarship.

The slide show was followed by her Bharatanatyam dance presentation featuring compositions, Brahma Kautuvam, Devi Mangalam, Meera Bhajan and Tillana. Smt. Trigunayat presented a bouquet to Ms. Ganna Smirnova at the end of the programme. A reception was held at the end. About 140 guests attended the event.