The theme at Polyfest’s diversity stage this year was; “healing the mind, body, soul and spirit through culture”. The Indian dance group incorporated the idea of duality within human beings in their performance.

This is the idea that human beings have a bright, joyful side, and a dark, melancholic side to our mind, body, soul, and spirit. This is called Ardhanarishvara in Sanskrit: The duality of Hindu deities Brahma and Saraswati, Vishnu and Lakshmi, Shiva and Parvati.

The performance consisted of folk songs from diverse parts of India; Tamil Nadu to Gujarat. It told a story beginning with isolation and trepidation, transitioning to a section of suspense and darkness. The dance then juxtaposes to experience peace and bliss, and completes the arc in joy and triumph.

Essentially conveying that we, as humans, go through our own journey of Ardhanarishvara, but will come out full of hope and victory in the end.