Bhagavata Mela is a classical Indian dance that is performed in Tamil Nadu,[1] particularly the Thanjavur area.[2][3] It is choreographed as an annual Vaishnavism tradition in Melattur and nearby regions, and celebrated as a dance-drama performance art.[2][4] The dance art has roots in a historic migration of practitioners of Kuchipudi, another Indian classical dance art,[2] from Andhra Pradesh to the kingdom of Tanjavur.
The term Bhagavata, state Brandon and Banham, refers to the Hindu text Bhagavata Purana.[2] Mela is a Sanskrit word that means "gathering, meeting of a group" and connotes a folk festival.[5] The traditional Bhagavata Mela performance acts out the legends of Hinduism,[4] set to the Carnatic style music.[6]
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- ^ Williams 2004, pp. 83–84, the other major classical Indian dances are: Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Odissi, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Sattriya, Cchau, Manipuri, Yaksagana and Bhagavata Mela.
- ^ a b c d James R. Brandon; Martin Banham (1997). The Cambridge Guide to Asian Theatre. Cambridge University Press. pp. 72, 79–80. ISBN 978-0-521-58822-5.
- ^ Jennifer Fisher; Anthony Shay (2009). When Men Dance:Choreographing Masculinities Across Borders. Oxford University Press. pp. 388 footnote 10. ISBN 978-0-19-973946-2.
- ^ a b Don Rubin; Chua Soo Pong; Ravi Chaturvedi (2001). The World Encyclopedia of Contemporary Theatre: Asia/Pacific. Routledge. pp. 139–140. ISBN 978-0-415-26087-9.
- ^ Bruno Nettl; Ruth M. Stone; James Porter; et al. (1998). The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music: South Asia : the Indian subcontinent. Routledge. p. 874. ISBN 978-0-8240-4946-1.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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