After years of dance lessons under Smt. Jasmine Shah, Smt. Preetha Arun, and Smt. Jeyanthi Ghatraju, I performed my arangetram on June 17, 2006 at the Nashoba Technical High School in Westford, MA where over two hundred people watched me perform on a Saturday afternoon.

My level of gracefulness when I started my dance lessons was probably equal to that of a drunken elephant. No lie. But it's always that way at the start. After weeks and weeks of waking up early to go to class and with the help of the Lord's grace, I gradually improved.

On the day of my arangetram, before the program, my guru, Smt. Jeyanthi Ghatraju performed my salangai pooja where I formally received my salangai (bells). We recited slokas for our inner peace, saluting the gurus, Lord Shiva and Ganesha. The actual program began with Solkattu, a warm-up piece, followed by Natesha Kavuthuvam, a dance dedicated to Lord Natraja. Next, I performed the traditional dances, Alarippu and Jatiswaram. These dances were followed by Samiyai vara solladi Varnam, in praise of Lord Karthikeya. Highlights of the varnum included elaborate story-telling on how the nayika's feelings start from the longing for the Lord, to ways of reaching him and ending with the faith and confidence that he'll come and marry her soon. It was sure a test of my physical stamina. I was intrigued to portray the different emotions - from the Nayika writing letters to her Beloved, pleading to him to ride his glorious peacock and come back to her before her youth fades away. I couldn't believe someone from the audience actually counted the jathi/sahitya transitions as quizzed by Jeyanthi aunty and came up with the right answer!

The second half of the program, after a brief intermission, reflected on my abhinaya and interpretative skills. The keerthanam, Meekakshi thaye, was dedicated to Goddess Meenakshi, while the second padam depicted the antics of Lord Krishna and his gopis. The arangetram ended with a traditional Thillana in ragam Simmhendra Madhyamam, followed by Mangalam.

My dadaji from Ottawa, Canada addressed the guests, at the end of the recital. He expressed a grandparent's true delight and sentiments in being able to be part of the arangetram,. He said that it was unimaginable for him that he'd be able to attend and appreciate his granddaughter's arangetram performance, being born and brought up thousands of miles away from his homeland. During his early years in Pondicherry, he had enjoyed this age-old and complicated art form.along with several music concerts and it was not even in his dream that someone from his family would take up Bharathanatyam and he'd witness an arangetram. I was totally moved and so were many in the audience who shared similar feelings. 

Here is a gist from my thank you note. First and foremost, I'd like to thank my parents for not just financing this whole affair and take on the huge effort of planning the arangetram, but being there for me always whenever I needed anything.

For the all the years of patience and corrections- for the repeated reminders of, keep your back straight, move your left foot- no, your other left, bend more, bend more! Move on Saa…Aramundi! I can't thank my dance gurus enough. None of this would be possible without Jasmine Auntie, Preetha Auntie, and Jeyanthi Auntie. Thank you for teaching me discipline and making me bend my legs more, even if it was seven in the morning on a Saturday. All those dance practices have paid off, culminating today on my arangetram. I really, really appreciate all of your effort. Words can't express my gratitude.

I'd also like to thank my friends. I still remember that my friend Jess, whenever she'd wanted to sleep-over my house on the weekend when we were in fourth grade, had to sit through my dance classes on Friday nights. And even now, she's always been there for me. The week before my arangetram, she said, “Even if you trip headfirst across the stage, Meera, I'll still think it was good.". It was comforting to know that at least one person would be clapping no matter what happened. So I owe a thank you to her and to all my friends, you know who you are, for your unwavering support.

To the sound of classical Indian music and the chiming of my bells, the event was a grand conclusion to the many years of my studying dance. As a recent graduate of Westford Academy's Class of 2006, I'm planning to pursue studies in pre-veterinary medicine and creative writing at Boston University. Most importantly, I'm also planning to continue participating in dance programs and stay in touch with my cultural heritage.

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