About The Event
After the phenomenal premiere of Paschimavahini Krishna in Bengaluru — with three back-to-back shows that drew over 3,000 audience members — we are now bringing this powerful, real-life story to Mysuru.
Step into a world where the divine meets the artistic in an unforgettable Indian classical dance theatrical spectacle, presented in honour of Krishna on the banks of the river Cauvery. This performance celebrates the enduring connection between dance, music and the temple's celestial narrative.
Set against the backdrop of a temple, a river, and a tree, the performance delves into centuries-old stories, weaving together the rich tapestry of history, devotion, nature and human emotions.
The Sri Venugopala Krishnaswamy Temple, nestled on the banks of the river Cauvery in the heart of Paschimavahini, Srirangapatna (near Mysore) in Karnataka, India, is a sacred place of worship. It is vital to the cultural life of the community, drawing pilgrims from across the region, especially during the month of Tula Sankramana (mid-October to mid-November), when the river flows in all its glory.
According to the available sthala purana from 1810 C.E., a devotee named Kodugu Sreenivasa experienced a compelling vision after bathing in the Cauvery in Paschimavahini. While he rested under an Aswatha tree, he fell asleep and dreamt that he would discover an idol of Sri Venugopala Krishnaswamy buried at the foot of the tree! In the dream, he was instructed to retrieve the idol and establish a temple to honour Sri Venugopala Krishnaswamy. Sreenivasa was also asked to feed the pilgrims (Yatrikas) who came to bathe in the holy river during the month of Tula Sankramana.
As per the divine instructions received, Sreenivasa carefully excavated the area at the base of the Aswatha tree. To his immense exhilaration, he indeed unearthed a beautiful idol of Lord Venugopala Krishnaswamy! With great zeal and enthusiasm, he constructed the temple as well as an adjacent chathram to provide rest and nourishment for the Yatrikas. He and his descendants nurtured the temple with great devotion, overcoming hardships along the way, including Bellary Seethamma, who fought misogynistic practices, begged for grains from the neighbourhood and continued her father-in-law's work of feeding the devotees with those alms.
Our artists seamlessly blend tradition with innovation, presenting Indian classical dance in a way that resonates with audiences of all backgrounds. Technology-driven special effects further enhance the audience's experience. The finale promises to leave you spellbound, awakening a longing to connect with divinity in nature and become one with the universal spirit.
Badari Divya Bhushan, the multifaceted celebrity star of the show, not only plays the protagonist but is also its Artistic Director. Bhushan has also scripted the lyrics and screenplay, composed the music, sung, choreographed, and designed the costumes, creatively styling this mega musical dance theatrical.
Bhushans’ Academy of Performing Arts & Visual Presentation, founded by Badari Divya Bhushan and Dr. Anjana Bhushan, is a premier institution dedicated to nurturing excellence in Bharatanatyam and allied art forms. Based in Mysuru, with branches across other cities, the academy blends tradition with innovation—offering rigorous training, creative exploration, and opportunities to participate in grand dance-theatrical productions. The Academy is also the co-producer of Paschimavahini Krishna.
This edition of the Mysuru presentation is a part of Nruthya Bhushana National Classical Dance festival, edition 19.
The venture is co-produced by GoBrahma Productions, an avant-garde live experience company founded by Roopa Prasad Doraswamy-Bharatanatyam dancer, triple-qualified lawyer, and global corporate veteran with over 25 years of experience. Having reclaimed her artistic lineage, she envisions GoBrahma as a crucible where Indian classical traditions are reborn for the world stage. With other acclaimed works such as Whispers of the River and the Tree and Chandralekha - The Lost Courtesan, GoBrahma Productions has swiftly established itself as a beacon of professionalism, sustainability, and global vision in the performing arts. Its mission: to empower the next generation of artists while sculpting Indian classical narratives into a language that resonates universally.
