Janmashtami celebrated at Rukmimi Dwarkadhish temple(ISKON) Dwarka

As part of the celebrations, a dance drama ‘Krishna Leela’ was staged on 25 August 2013 by Vaikuntha Players of  ISKCON Temple East of Kailash, New Delhi. Conceived and directed by Shri Adi Yogi Das of ISKCON, East of Kailash, the dance drama lasting a little less than an hour comprised a few anecdotes from the life of Lord Krishna. All the actors of the dance drama are Krishna Bhakts and have staged several plays on such themes before. Dwarka resident Sapna Attavar, an upcoming Bharatanatyam dancer was blessed to be part of this divine presentation. Sapna was assigned a prominent role in the dance drama – the role of Rukmini. Rukmini is in love with Lord Krishna. She portrays her love for the Lord through a solo dance, to the famous song ‘Kamala Lochana’, in praise of the Lord. Rukmini’s brother Rukmi admonishes Rukmini, and along with King Jarasandh and Shishupal conspires and decides that Rukmini shall wed Shishupal. This was followed by a sad dance by a distraught Rukmini, to the song Binati Suniye, Nath Hamare, in which Rukmini pleads to the Lord to understand her plight and save her from Jarasandh and Shishupal. Rukmini’s feelings and her writing of a letter to Lord Krishna was portrayed beautifully. The message of Rukmini reaches the Lord who arrives on the scene with brother Balram, vanquishes the evil forces and marries Rukmini. The other scenes in the drama showed Krishna’s victory over the evil Kalyavan.

The huge audience was held spell-bound throughout the play particularly the two solo dances by Sapna. The costumes of the actors made them look like the original characters themselves and mesmerized the audience. Shouts of ‘Hari Bol’ and ‘Hare Krishna’ rent the air as a victorious Krishna with elder brother Balram, Rukmini and Revathi stood on stage in the last scene, their right hands raised in blessing. Elaborate arrangements had been made to ensure that the function was a huge success. A magnificent stage was erected with a large pandal which could house almost a thousand people.

The same dance drama had been presented by Vaikuntha Players on 4 August 2013 at the prestigious Siri Fort Auditorium, and having met with rip-roaring success, the troupe had decided to stage it a second time on the occasion of inauguration of the sprawling, under-construction Rukmini Dwarkadheesh temple in Dwarka.

Dwarka residents look forward to such delectable performances again and again at the holy precincts of the Rukmini Dwarkadheesh temple.