Libraries regularly celebrate international festivals.
The youth coordinator at the Sandy Springs Library, Shannon Duffy, for example,
organizes a Diwali celebration by reading books about the festival and Hinduism
to young readers—and this year, the Narasimha Academy of Arts, helmed by Preeti
Shah, was invited to present an hour and a half segment on music and dance with
the younger students of the academy. Over 125 local residents gathered at the
library off Mt. Vernon Road for the Diwali program on November 6th, 2010.
Over 47 participants between the ages of 5 and 13 presented Carnatic
kritis, bhajans and Bharathanatyam dance items. The show, emceed by Srividya
Janakiraman, began with an invocation song and was followed by a traditional
diya dance. Kritis by Thyagaraja and Dikshitar were performed by boys and girls
alike. Traditional dance items such as a Kauthuvam, Allarippu, Jatiswaram and
Keerthanams were showcased. Recent Arangetram graduate Roshni Kailar presented a
solo dance piece on Lord Ganesha, and senior student Kritika Subramanian
presented a Jatiswaram in the Mohiniattam style of dance. Under the direction
and tutelage of Guru Preeti Shah, the students performed with grace and
confidence. Many visitors had to be turned away as the library’s performance
space had reached full capacity.
Shannon Duffy thanked Preeti Shah for
the audiovisual treat and promised the audience more events such as this at the
library for all local residents to enjoy