English Commentary (Contributed by Harshit Misra)
Take this, take! This will help you. She doesn’t take. I have not seen any beggar like her.
O hello sir! Did you want to give something to her?
Yes. But she didn’t take and came after me.
Daily this happens with someone. She’s not a beggar. She’s a devi, just like the Apsaras in this premises. I
don’t know what kind of penance is she doing.
Who’s she?
Leave it sir!
Go and visit the temple.
Oh tell me!
Have you heard the name of Guru Ganesh Shastri?
Yes! Why not I have been a big fan of him.
She’s his daughter. Long time ago when she came here , she looked like a goddess. She was very
beautiful. She did an amazing dance.
But how did she get to this condition?
It is a very sad story sir! I don’t want to hurt you by sharing that story. Go visit the temple
No! I want to hear. Tell me please.
The family of Ganesh Shastry have been traditional dancers. Ganesh Shastry did not have a son.
Therefore, he wanted to teach his daughter as per his Gharana.
Dadhi, come have food.
No I am not hungry.
Not hungry. Come have food!
I am not hungry. You have food.
There is a father who is roaming around and the daughter is lost in her thoughts. Go don’t eat.
Rati! You have been sitting like this since morning. What is going on?
You know dada! Its been four days. I am worried about father.
O daughter! You father has gone to Khajuraho! That is tapasya. No Rishi gives up his Tapasya!
Dada! See father has come!
I’ll not talk to you now! You stay away from home for so many days. Does it behove to stay like this?
I don’t like it! But there are few things that have to be done. Come!
Father tell me something about Khajuraho!
Khajuraho! There are many anecdotes about it. But one is famous – very beautiful. Listen! There was a
king Chadravarman and his mother Hemavati. They say she was very beautiful, but she was a child
widow. One night she was bathing in a Kamal Jheel (Lotus Lake). Chandradev got attracted and he came
to earth and did a Gandharva Vivah with her. When he was about to leave, Hemavati asked, that if there
is a consequence of our meet, people will call me tainted.
--Dance performance
Chandradeva said that you go to Vindhyachal Parvata and there is a place at the banks of Karnavati river,
you’ll beget a child. He will be a great ruler and construct temples. The place will be named as
Khanjanpura. This village came to be known as Khajuraho. Oh! You slept! You slept listening to the story!
Sleep!
Next Day!
Dada! Dada! What is this?
Rati! What have you brought?
What is this?
This is an Apsara! Just like you. One of the Khajuraho Apsaras.
Are the Khajuraho Apsaras like this?
See this. This is a brilliant specimen of sculpture. If someone studies the idols of Khujaraho or the dance
positions in these idols closely, he/she can become a great dancer. The god has made the sculptor. But it
seems like that God himself gave his hands to sculptors. And the sculpture of Khujaraho were made with
these hands. I pay my salutations to those anonymous scultors.
Baba! I’ll also go to Khajuraho!
You should definitely! But not now! Go when you become a great dancer. There you have to perform in
front of great connoisseurs and that will be your examination.
I am ready to take this exam. I’ll follow whatever you say.
If so, my dream will definitely be realized.Go get my Pakhavaj!
Shut this off! You roam all around all the time. Are you not worried about the marriage of Rati? She’s
already 18.
Sister! She’s a boy. She’ll carry our lineage.
Brother! If you talk like you’ll face a lot of issues in her marriage.
Sister! You don’t worry about her! I’ll take care! I’ll make her something. The heritage given by our
ancestors will be carried on by her. In her veins lie great passion. Definitely, she’ll become a great
dancer.
Dance performance
Friend! One day I’ll also go to Khajuraho! Then you’ll see how well I can dance like you.
Dance practice
Rati! How many times I have told you, that don’t bow in front of me. Bow to the earth. We tap our feet
on the earth. And bow to seek forgiveness. The earth gives us energy. Dance is there in your veins, but
only the one who is disciplined is an artist. Once again!
Dance practice
Rati! See , lift your elbow. The expression of your face Mudras..very nice..! great!
Dance performance
Claps
Well done ! Long live daughter! Daughter, this Shivratri, I’ll definitely take you the Khajuraho festival.
(Background); If someone studies the idols of Khujaraho or the dance positions in these idols closely,
he/she can become a great dancer.
Come daughter! Let’s go the stage where you have to perform tonight. Come!
Coming Baba!
Come! Take off you sleepers. Before stepping on the stage, one should do pay obeisance to that stage.
This is the platform where you have to present your art. Thousands of eyes will be focused on you.
There will be less people who’ll applaud and more critics. I have given you the training. You have to be
on the mark. Best wishes!
Gururbrahma shloka!
Do rest of your Sringaar.
Dance performance
Thinking : Friend! One day I’ll also go to Khajuraho! Then you’ll see how well I can dance like you.
Rati – Rati Rati Rati! Where are you? Rati Rati Rati Rati call!
Daughter Rati! Who are you searcing for ? Apsara? You’re late. There were many Apsaras like you,
designed over many years. Therefore, when they break, the Sanskriti and Sabhyata also fall apart. But,
this is all done by humans! Daughter! if someone puts a blemish on your beautiful face then? Ultimately,
I will have to end up as a debris. Now you tell me! Are we stones, or the people?
Rati! You are here? I searched for you everywhere! Everyone is asking about you! Daughter! Do you
know you have become a great dancer! Yes, a great dancer! Daughter! Why are you not speaking? What
happened to you? You have made the dream of your father true! Why are you not speaking? Why are
you not speaking!
English commentary!
And since that day, Rati got mentally retarded. Ganpaty Shastry could not bear this pain and he passed
away. Since then, this Apsara tries to search for Hemavati or herself among these broken sculptures. Go
visit the temple! It is late evening. Come ma! It is time to close the temple. Come!
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