Project Vedanritya:

The Indian tradition is a synthesis of various cultures. The beauty of our tradition lies in this melange. Every culture has its uniqueness, making each one distinct in style, form and expression. What is common in all of these cultures, is the desire to be one with the divine. Captivated by this vast treasure of tradition and inspired the spirituality of our culture, Guru Sutapa Talukdar has created a new language in Indian classical dance. ‘Veda Nritya’.

Veda Nritya is a confluence of three distinct Indian forms of expression – Odissi dance, tantric hasta mudras and yoga. But why these three forms? What inspired the Guru to bring together these distinctly different expressions?

The Guru has been practicing the dance form Odissi for over three decades. She is a doyen in the art form, living and breathing Odissi in body and mind. In her journey as an artist, she also closely followed other forms and expressions. Among these, what intrigued her most were two completely diverse forms of expression - yoga and tantra. Odissi, yoga and tantra – all three forms are age-old Indian practices. All three embody the spiritual aspiration of appeasing the divine, and finding peace in divinity. All three forms enthral and delight audiences. Inspired by the commonness, the Guru weaved in the essence of all three, into one new Indian classical form, Veda Nritya.

Impressed by the originality of form, the Ministry of Culture, Government of India granted Senior Fellowship to the Guru for the tenure 2004-2006.

Dance movements of Odissi; 93 vedic and tantric ‘hasta mudras’; yogic postures – all come together to create Veda Nritya, a form that is deeply rooted in Indian culture, and embodies the Indian aesthetic of spirituality.