The divine dance

It was the first time in Navsari that two 18-year-old Parsi girls gave their public performance in Bharat Natyam. At their arange­tram program on May 14, 2004 included among the repertoire of items performed by Khush­numa Khurshed Desai and Vahbiz Aspi Billimoria was a novel composition, Nabi O Na Nabi Asho Zar­athushtra Paigambar, depicting certain episodes from the life of Zarathushtra, notes a press release by Khurshed Desai. Asho Zarathushtra bringing robbers and gamblers to the good path, curing the ailing horse in King Vishtasp’s court and proclaiming the message of his religion were some of the scenes they rendered in the classical dance style before an august audience that included Dastur Meherji Meherjirana.

Billimoria (left) and Desai

Dancing at the 24th Dikshant program there were other compositions too which they gracefully performed with Anju Patel and Khyati Kharadi to the different raags and taals. Besides dancing, Khushnuma is pursuing her academic studies, in her second year of junior college. Vahbiz won the first prize in mono-acting at the district level, according to the press re­lease.

Their guru Neha Patel stressed the need to cultivate a respect for the Indian culture against the onslaught of western culture. Presiding over the function veteran dramatist Yazdi Karanjia, trustee of the Surat Parsi Panchayat, interspersing humor in his speech, commended the efforts of the guru and of the parents, Jeroo and Khurshed Desai and Gulshan and Aspi Billimoria for patronizing this traditional dance form.