Kamal Ghorui
Imagine swimming 20 feet below the ocean’s surface. There’s no sunlight, it’s so dark that even experienced swimmers can get fazed sometime. Now, imagine a young girl of 11, performing Indian classical dance, Bharatnayan 20 feet underwater. And why? To save the sea from plastic pollution. When a strong-willed girl dances for a strong purpose, the outcome is surreal. The unusual performance was so deep that every movement carried a message that travelled far beyond the water.The incredible story of Thaaragai Aarathana Say hello to Thaaragai Aarathana, an 11-year-old student from Puducherry, who is a Bharatnatyam dancer. Instead of performing on a traditional stage, the young girl chose the ocean floor for her performance and created magic. In the video shared on YouTube (TellMyStory), the girl can be seen dressed in Bharatnatyam costume, complete with jewellery and makeup. She took all the pain to tell a story, the silent suffering of oceans.It’s a harsh truth that the world of the ocean is overwhelmed by plastic waste. Aarathana with her performance wanted to narrate the suffering of oceans. Where was the video shotThe strong performance was filmed in the waters close to Rameswaram. Floating between currents, she performed some graceful gestures and strong poses. In Bharatanatyam, these are called mudras. During the whole performance, she was holding her breath. Still it looks effortless. Dancing under the water is far more difficult than it looks. Every movement requires immense control, breathing technique and balance. All while focusing on graceful moments.The incident that inspired herFor Thaaragai, it was a very personal performance. During one of her earlier dives, she reportedly witnessed marine creatures struggling in waters because of plastic waste. She saw turtles trapped in fishing nets, a painful sight that stayed with her. This was a turning moment for her. She decided to respond in the way she knew best which was Bharatanatyam. She, being a trained diver and dancer, realised that combining the two could create a message she wanted to tell. It was a bold idea.Mission Clean OceansAs per reports, the young girl has already helped remove nearly 3,000 kg of plastic waste from the sea. Her father is also a marine lover who in 20 years, has removed about 37,000 kg of waste from the ocean.When art becomes activism: A viral video
Screenshot/YouTube
The video of the performance was shared online, and went viral in no time. It garnered praises from all over. It is a fact that Bharatanatyam has historically been associated with the art of storytelling. It was traditionally performed in temples and cultural halls to tell stories of Gods and Goddesses and kings and queens. At just eleven years old, she knows what she wants to do in future. But as adults, some of us are still polluting the oceans. If a child can dive into the ocean to save it, can the rest of us at least stop polluting it?
