Bengaluru : Samridhi Dance Foundation’s Mahashivaratri Nritya Seva, held on 15 February 2026 at Vinayaka Venkateshwara Devasthana, Nagarbhavi, was successfully concluded as a collective Bharatanatyam offering to Lord Shiva on the auspicious occasion of Mahashivaratri. Smt. Rakshita Raghunathan, Founder & Artistic Director of Samridhi Dance Foundation guided the students to render the presentation emphasizing tradition, expression, and spiritual depth.
The programme featured compositions from the traditional repertoire – Margam with unique pieces presented by Smt. Rakshita Raghunathan and students. The highlight of the presentation was a Kovur Pancharatnam “Shambho Mahadeva,” – a Thyagaraja Kriti on Shiva, followed by Dikshitar Kritis showcasing her refined artistry and interpretive depth. She also presented “Ranjani Mala” – a unique choreography with Natya Shastra Karanas, which she had presented earlier under the guidance of her teacher Dr. Sujatha Mohan (disciple of Padma Vibhushan Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam)
Students of Samridhi Dance Foundation complemented these presentations by offering several invocatory and devotional items such as Ganesha Pushpanjali, Misra Alarippu with Thiruppugazh along with Devi Kritis and an excerpt from Ashtapathi – a Dashavatara Sloka, setting a spiritually resonant tone for the evening.
Rakshita is a disciple of Kalaimamani Smt. Ramya Ramnarayan, a stellar exponent and a protege of Vadhyar S K Rajaratnam Pillai and Padma Bhushan Kalanidhi Narayanan. Under the guidance of her Guru, Rakshita has presented at prestigious festival seasons, including the Kartik Fine Arts – Narada Gana Sabha and Brahma Gana Sabha in Chennai and has presented at renowned cultural venues nationwide. Her notable Nritya Seva extend to important cultural and heritage sites such as Ram Janma Bhoomi, Ayodhya, under a project of the Ministry of Culture and IECSME, SVBC Nadaneerajanam at Tirumala, Murajapam Lakshadeepam at Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Trivandrum, Shri Kukke Subrahmanya Devasthana, Sri Kateelu Durgaparameshwari Devasthana to name a few. She has also performed for Mahashivaratri Natyanjalis at renowned temples of Adi Kumbeswara Temple – Kumbakonam, Mahalingeshwara Temple – Thiruvidaimarudhoor, Mayuranathaswamy Temple – Mayiladuthurai, Panchanadeeswara Temple – Thiruvaiyaru, Veerateswara Temple – Vazhuvoor to name a few. She has also performed at the prestigious Chinna Melam Festival at Brihadeeswara Temple, Thanjavur. Rakshita is deeply passionate about Nritya Seva at temples and believes its an opportunity to offer gratitude to the divine.
Under her guidance, Samridhi Dance Foundation nurtures authentic engagement with Bharatanatyam, inspiring students to embrace the art form with commitment and integrity.
The programme reflected deep devotion and classical excellence, with students of varied age groups to come together in this presentation.
Founded in 2016, Samridhi Dance Foundation is dedicated to promoting Bharatanatyam through structured training, performance platforms, and cultural initiatives. The institution has reached learners across borders having students in over 35+countries and continues to build a strong community of practitioners connected by devotion and artistic pursuit. More information about the training can be found on the official website – www.samridhidance.com.
The Mahashivaratri Nritya Seva at Vinayaka Venkateshwara Devasthana, Nagarbhavi stood as a significant milestone – a night where devotion, art, and community came together.
Students – Swara, Kushi, Shatakshi, Samhitha, Anivardhi, Divya, Prema, Meghna, Spoorthy and Deepa Rabindra were felicitated with temple trustee – Sharada Ma at the end of the program and a timeless legacy of Bharatanatyam was celebrated.
