More than 400 guests representing a cross-section of the society attended the Arangetram of teenager Nidhita Gosai held recently at the Telstra Pacific Events Centre in Auckland.
Prominent Indo-Fijian John Samy, who headed the Technical Assistance & Support Secretariat for People’s Charter in Fiji, was the Chief Guest at the event, along with a large number of friends and well-wishers of the Gosai family from Fiji and other parts of New Zealand.
Throughout the three-hour programme, Nidhita displayed energy, enthusiasm and the urge to reach professional standards, which are qualities dear to her Guru Kalaichelvi Uthayakumaran, Principal and Director of the East Auckland based Narthana Aalayam School of Indian Dance.
Beginning her performance with ‘Pushpanjali,’ a traditional item invoking the blessings of Lord Ganesha, she went on to execute ‘Kauthuvam,’ a ‘Jathiswaram’ item, followed by Varnam, in the form of ‘Gaanam Isaithu.’
‘Padam,’ an item that often poses a challenge to debutantes was in the form of a Bhajan ‘Namo Namo,’ while the ‘Thillana’ was a ‘Keerthanam.’
Said an expert: “Nidhita performed each item with precision, verve and poise. We were moved by the involvement and dedication apparent in the performance of this youngster. She is extremely talented and we appreciated the beauty of her dance, rewarding her with a standing ovation at the end of the performance.”
For her parents Rakesh Gosai and Sanjeeta Mishra, residents of Papatoetoe in South Auckland, it was a day of reward and rejoice.
An Epsom Girls Grammar School (Year 12) student, also pursuing her Bharata Natyam Diploma at Annamalai University in Chennai, Nidhita has a bright future in the art if she decides to gain proficiency.
The accompanying live orchestra enhanced the value of the Arangetram.
Among them were Gomathi Nayagam (Vocal), Kalaichelvi (Nattuvangam), Nagai Narayanan Subramaniyam (Mridangam), Shankar Venkatraman (Violin), Ramesh Maswa Nagarayan (Flute), Peter Ravela and Mithilesh Gosai (Tabla).
