An evening of Kathak and Bharatanatyam by Nikhil Ravi Parmar and Khushi Hegde, unfolds with a sacred invocation—an ode to Shiva, the eternal source of rhythm and movement. The dancers offer their Vandana and Stuti in their respective classical idioms, paying homage to their gurus and teachers, setting the tone of reverence and gratitude.

From this spiritual beginning, the performance journeys into the many shades of love. The delicate tapestry of śṛṅgāra (romantic love) is explored through Amir Khusrao’s timeless bandish, evoking longing, yearning, and the beauty of separation.

The narrative then turns playful, with the story of Madana, the god of love, whose arrows have struck countless hearts—reminding us of love’s charm and mischief. As love deepens, it finds expression in the haunting ghazal “Aa Jaane Ki Zid Na Karo”. Here, love transcends the physical—residing in the silences, the unspoken gestures, the felt presence of the beloved.

The evening culminates in a soulful abhang, where love dissolves into devotion—celebrating the highest form of union, bhakti.

This evening is a celebration of tradition and timelessness—of love in its waxing and waning, its joy and sacrifice, its journey from the human to the divine.