Fifteen show series of ‘Mata Ki Kahani’ begins in Navratra Festival, Katra
Katra 16th of October, 2023 : Fifteen show series of the mega theatre show ‘Mata Kahani’ begins at the auditorium of Spiritual Growth, Katra. ‘Mata Ki Kahani’ – a mega musical theatre presentation devised designed and directed by Padamshree Balwant Thakur is being featured in the Navratra Festival-2023 organised by J&K Tourism in association with Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. While welcoming the august audience, Natrang Director Balwant Thakur informed that since the year 2017, Natrang has been regularly presenting this internationally theatre show in the Navratra festival and have been the most sought after happening of the festival here in Katra. On the occasion he informed that Natrang will present this show every day at 4 pm and 6 pm at the Spiritual Growth Centre, Katra regularly till 23rd of October, 2023. The entry to the show is free of charges.
History has never witnessed a theatre presentation based on this one of the most popular Indian mythology. The most significant part of this performance is the usage of traditional narratives of Mata Vaishno Devi which have been echoing in the hills since last over one thousand years. This mind-blowing presentation is an assimilation of music, dance, drama and the latest developed techniques of visual magnifications.
The story of Mata Vaishno Devi is a classic narrative that echoes every Hindu household and is a part of every grandma’s midnight tale. As per the legend, during the period when the Goddess was busy in annihilating the Asuras, Her three main manifestations viz. Mata Maha Kali, Mata Maha Lakshmi and Mata Maha Saraswati got together one day and pooled their collective Tejas or spiritual strength. A stunningly bright light emanated from the place where the Tejas of the three manifestations coalesced and a beautiful young girl emerged out of this Tejas. The young girl asked them, “Why have I been created?” The Devis explained to her that they had created her so that she would live on earth and spend her time in upholding righteousness. They asked her to take human birth in the home of Ratnakar, who was a devotee of three Goddesses, and then go on to lead a life of piousness and penance, so as to raise her own consciousness to the level of Godhead. They also told her that once she had attained that level of consciousness, she would then become one with Lord Vishnu. Soon a young and beautiful girl was born to Ratnakar and his wife. They named her Vaishnavi. Right from her childhood, the girl was spiritually inclined and had a quest for the knowledge of the inner self. She would go into deep meditation and stay in that state for hours together. She then decided to renounce all worldly comforts and travel deep into the forest to perform severe austerities and penance. This is when she met Lord Rama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and attained his blessings. She wanted to become one with Rama, as was her mission. However, Rama, knowing that it was not the right time, promised her that he would visit her again, after the end of his exile. He told her that if she recognized him at that time, he would then fulfill her wish. Rama kept his promise, and came to meet her after winning the battle from Ravana in an old man’s disguise. But unfortunately, Vaishnavi could not recognise him. She became upset when Rama showed his true self to her. Rama told her that the time had yet not come for them to be with one another and assured her that they would unite during Kaliyug, when he would be in his incarnation of Kalki. Rama also asked her to set up her ashram in the foot of the Trikuta Hills and serve to uplift the poor and the destitute. And the story continues………
Seventy accomplished artists/performers/technicians/designers have mounted this presentation. Prominent amongst those included Neeraj Kant in Direction, Surinder Manhas Virji Sumbly in art direction, Rahul Singh, Brijesh Avtar Sharma and Mohd. Yaseen in Costumes and properties, Chander Shekhar in Designing, Sunny Mujoo (Choreography) and Shivam Singh in light design.
The prominent participants of this mega production included Neeraj Kant, Sunny Mujoo, Gopi Sharma, Chirag Anand, Sushant Singh Charak, Aadesh Dhar, Mahikshit Singh, Kushal Bhat, Vishal Sharma, Sanket Bhagat, Sumit Bandaral, Abhimanyu Choudhary, Chaitanya Shekhar, Ajay Lalotra, Anand Verma, Amit Rana, Sunny, Raghav Pandita, Vansh Pandotra, Rikshit Sharma, Arun Sharma, Palshin Dutta, Radhika Khajuria, Radhika Sharma, Meenakshi Bhagat, Shivam Singh, Kananpreet Kaur, Mehak Singh, Mehak Chib, Mehak Panzore, Ritika, Anmolpreet Kour, Jaspreet Kour, Shriya Razza, Madiha Sajad, Kashish Katoch, Tania Balgotra, Priya, Suneha Agural, Priyal Ashok Gupta, Prerna Sharma, Deepshikha Sharma, Himanshi Jain, Tarun Sharma, Munish and Uday Manhas
