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The latest book written by Rajendar Menen is Rudraksha Power is a unique and unusual book that enlightens the readers regarding the significance of the Rudraksha, the sacred bead which is considered the tears of Lord Shiva, the inception, the varied types of Rudraksha, its medicinal properties and how it is used for spiritual and mental growth, well being of human life and existence.

Vadapalli Cultural Trust and Dancing Bells (Hong Kong) presented Andhra Natyam performance by one of the best female impersonators of the country, Sanjay Vadapalli at the Survaram Pratap Reddy Telugu University in Hyderabad on May 4 ,in order to honour Guru Dr Kalakrishna with the Dr Nataraj Ramakrishna Nritya Ratna award for his invaluable and outstanding contribution in the promotion and propagation of Andhra Natyam.

Renowned classical dancers from Bangalore, Sangeet Natak Akademi awardees Nirupama and TD Rajendra performed along with the Abhinava dance ensemble, ten female dancers and two male dancers. Showcasing stunning choreographies set to soul stirring original music by composers Praveen D Rao, Pravin Godkhindi and Dr Mysore Manjunath at the exquisite studio theatre of Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre in Mumbai on June 18. The programme was entitled Ojas – spectacular and beautif

Show house presented the three days unique music festival with the title “One India Many Voices” in order to propagate the message of unity in diversity, through classical, semi classical and light music, featuring eminent performers like Ustad Shujaat Khan for Sitar recital, Dhrupad by Ustad Wasfuddin Dagar, Bhajans by Bhajan Samrat – Pt Anup Jalota, Carnatic vocal by Raga Sisters –Ranjani and Gayatri, Gazal and Geet by Priyanka Barve. Khayal and Thumri by Ronkini Gupta, Suf

For over three decades, Kajal Sharma has carried the grace, discipline and refined aesthetics of the Lucknow Gharana of Kathak across continents. A senior disciple of the legendary Padma Vibhushan Pt. Birju Maharaj, she received her training at Kathak Kendra, New Delhi, and has since built a distinguished career as a performer, teacher and cultural ambassador in the United Kingdom.

There are rare souls who do not merely practice an art; they alter its destiny. Born with a purpose beyond their own lifetime, they become instruments through which an ancient tradition is protected, renewed, and transmitted with integrity to future generations.

Dear Readers, Namaste! Some moments in the journey of a publication become more than milestones. They become memories that remind us why we began. The launch of our June 2026 issue of Amrapali Magazine in Guyana was one such moment. With its Cover Story, ‘From Ganga to Demerara: The Living Legacy of the Girmitiyas’, the issue travelled far beyond the pages of the magazine to a land where the story of India continues to live through generations. The launch ceremony was a parti

he cultural ties between India and Guyana found a special expression in Georgetown as Amrapali Magazine unveiled its June 2026 issue, Ganga to Demerara, alongside the launch of Kathak Kalpika, a comprehensive course book on Kathak dance, bringing together heritage, history, literature, dance and cultural learning.

India has always been acknowledged as the ‘Land of Festivals’. Festivals are a true reflection of its rich cultural heritage. India is one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world. The beauty of our country’s culture lies in the fact that almost every month of the year one or more festival is celebrated in some part of the country. The months of Hindu calendar are Chaitra, Baisakh, Jyeshtha, Aashad, Shravan, Bhadrapad, Ashwin, Kartik, Margshisha, Paush, Magha and

I have spent nearly seven years, and I am still counting in this gentle, vibrant land. Not in one continuous stretch, but across two distinct phases, two cherished roles, and two lifetimes of learning. From 2014 to 2018, I arrived as a humble dance teacher at the Indian Cultural Centre, my feet fresh with the rhythms of India, my heart eager to share the language of Mudra and Tala with students who would soon become family.

In 1838 from India, we set sail as strangers to this land With our rich culture, traditions, and brotherhood We kept strong; so that we managed on the sea and on land A better life we were told… traveling across the Kala-Pani, awaiting the unknown Five died at sea on the journey of 114 days Packed tight like sausages, but who cares! Separation began when we landed in Berbice… Demerara and Essequibo- We came from the east Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madras- the time had come For our

Indian classical dance will took centre stage in New York in June 2026 as Dr. Pranaame Bhagawati, former Director of Kathak Kendra, New Delhi, and Founder & Artistic Director of Amrapali Society for Arts, participates in a series of Kathak activities in Long Island and Richmond Hill. The New York Kathak Workshop 2026, organised in association with AMRAPALI (Society for ARTS) and Vivarta Arts, was scheduled from June 7 to 9, 2026, at Hicksville, Long Island, New York. The work

Located approximately 14,477 kilometers from New Delhi in the South American continent, Georgetown is the capital of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. Its indigenous inhabitants are the Arawak and Carib tribes, whose history dates back thousands of years. Since the Spanish explorer Alonso de Ojeda first sighted the Guyanese coast in 1499, the region has been the subject of constant conflict between the French, Dutch, and British colonial powers. In 1814, the British establi

When historians write about migration, they often record numbers, ships, contracts, and destinations. They tell us when the ships sailed, how many passengers survived the journey, and where they eventually settled. Yet, the most important cargo of migration rarely appears in official records. The Girmitiyas who departed from India in the nineteenth century for distant colonies such as Demerara carried very little in terms of material possessions. Many were impoverished peasan

Asavari Pawar, affectionately known as the “Dancing Jewel of India,” is an acclaimed Kathak exponent, choreographer, educator, writer, and cultural ambassador whose artistic journey reflects a rare blend of tradition, innovation, and global outreach. She inherited her passion for Kathak from her illustrious father, Padmashri Guru Pratap Pawar, MBE, one of the foremost exponents of the Lucknow Gharana of Kathak. Beginning her dance training at the age of eight as a member of h

Mohit Shukla is a distinguished media professional, cultural entrepreneur, and Founder & Director of Kamaakhya Productions, a leading organization dedicated to art, culture, media, entertainment, and event production in India. Since 2006, he has been actively engaged in the fields of music, cinema, cultural promotion, media production, public relations, and entertainment, building a reputation for excellence, innovation, and meaningful cultural engagement.

In 1973, my family stepped off a flight into Georgetown, embarking on a cultural adventure that would shape our lives and leave a permanent signature on the history of the Caribbean. Looking back on it now as an artist, I realize how much of my father’s enterprising spirit I absorbed during those foundational years spent traveling between continents. My father, Padmashri Guru Pratap Pawar, is recognized today as a pioneer of classical Kathak dance; but to my younger brother P

This edition of Amrapali Magazine arrives with a story that travels across oceans, time, and memory, From Ganga to Demerara: The Living Legacy of the Girmitiyas. It is a reflection on migration and survival, on the quiet strength of those who crossed seas carrying nothing but hope, faith, and fragments of homeland in their hearts. Their journey from the sacred banks of the Ganga and other Indian rivers to the fertile lands of Demerara in Guyana continues to echo through gener

Music is one of those universal expressions of human civilization that has profoundly influenced human life by transcending the boundaries of time, space, language, and culture. In the contemporary era of globalization and digitalization, music is no longer merely a means of entertainment; rather, it has emerged as an effective medium for the construction of cultural identity, social consciousness, moral values, and communal cohesion. World Music Day, celebrated annually on 2

Preya Patel is an accomplished Kathak dancer, educator, choreographer, and cultural ambassador based in New York City. As the Executive and Artistic Director of Vivarta Arts, she has dedicated her career to preserving, promoting, and advancing the rich traditions of North Indian classical dance while making it accessible to diverse audiences across the United States. Trained under the guidance of Guru Smt. Jamuna Mitcham, Preya continues her artistic journey under the mentors