Srujana Rohit (Bengaluru)
My journey in Bharatanatyam began at age six, under my Guru, Smt. Rajee Narayan, my beloved Aunty. She was not just a teacher of dance but a fountain of wisdom and compassion. She nurtured me with patience and care, teaching me that Bharatanatyam is not merely an art form but a way of life – a path of devotion, discipline and humility. Every movement she created is woven with her blessings and her deep-rooted love for tradition.
In 2009, I was blessed to complete my Arangetram, an important milestone that marked not just the beginning of my performance journey but a deeper commitment to carrying forward the values she instilled in me. More than technique, she taught me the essence of bhava and bhakti — to dance with the heart and to treat each performance as a prayer.
During the pandemic, I undertook a 100-day challenge in social media as dance offering in honour of my Guru’s 90th birthday, sharing snippets of devotion and learning each day. This made me realise that no matter what and wherever I am, I MUST dance. More recently, I had the privilege of presenting a Bharatanatyam offering to Lord Nataraja at the sacred Chidambaram Temple.
Over the years, I have been blessed with opportunities to present this sacred art in cultural and devotional spaces. Some memorable milestones include performing at the Natyanjali Festival at Sri Subramanya Temple (Chembur), the Ayyappan Temple (Goregaon) and the Dashavataram Project for the 50th Year Celebration of Chembur Fine Arts Mumbai. I was also part of grand productions such as Bharathi Pamalai (2017), Nritya Geethanjali’s Amrutotsav at Shanmukhananda Sabha, Mumbai and several temple festivals across Mumbai.
Apart from Bharatanatyam, I learnt Carnatic Music, Nattuvangam and Natya Sastra from my Guru. These parallel streams of learning continue to deepen my understanding of rhythm, expression and the spiritual core of the art form.
Though she is no longer with us physically, Aunty’s presence continues to guide every step I take. Her teachings live within me, shaping my dance and my outlook on life. Today, as I continue to learn, practise and share this divine art in Bengaluru, my deepest aspiration is to honour her legacy. Every performance I give is not just an offering to the audience or the deity, but also a tribute to her – a humble attempt to keep alive the light she so generously passed on to me.
