Bharatanatyam Inspired Home Decor

Spotlight on Indian art forms and incorporating them into home decor

 has been the soul of Design Decor & Disha since the very beginning and last year apart from featuring famous Indian arts and crafts I got a chance to feature an Indian classical vocalist Chandra Kargupta. Till now 3D was devoid of a feature on Indian classical dance form but today's guest gave me the opportunity to present Bharatanatyam in a unique and very beautiful way and made my blog a versatile Indian Design & Decor blog. Before we go ahead and meet our guest let me enlighten you (especially readers from different countries) a bit on Bhatanatyam. Bharatanatyam is one of the oldest Indian classical dance forms originated in temples of Tamilnadu. The dance form is the hidden language of the soul, a beautiful way to narrate mythical legends and spiritual ideas from the Vedas and Upanishads gracefully with the gestures of hand, eyes and facial muscles. 

Now let me introduce to you a very talented guest today on 3D who is Bharatanatyam dancer and will be going to tell us how the dance has influenced her decor style and how she incorporates natyam in home decor. Not only that, she will be going to speak her heart out on what is the Hidden Language of the Soul: Decor or Dance? Dear readers, please welcome Shivangi Nagarajan who is a decor enthusiast and recently started interior design and home decor blog Kadakchaitalks and she calls it her creative outlet. Both Shivangi and her husband Naren Ganeshan are Bharatanatyam dancers. They both have a deep appreciation for the art form and in fact, it was the dance that brought them together.

Both Naren and Shivangi look so graceful and divine in Bharatanatyam mudras and ensemble. The purity of their hearts is reflected through their eyes. It is the people like Shivangi & Naren who inherit the legacy from past, maintain it in the present and bestow for the benefit of the future generations and make us feel proud of our country.
Now for the today's topic, I would say we can easily draw an inspiration from nature, places or even art forms to decorate our home. You must have read my blog on 'Banaras Inspired Decor' that explains how a city inspired me to incorporate the look of it in my home decor. Similarly, now Shivangi will throw some light on how Bharatanatyam, a divine dance influenced her decor style. Read on to immerse yourself in the beautiful world of Indian classical dance and decor inspired by it and let your senses burst with joy.
Over to Shivangi now,

Many thanks to Disha for giving me the opportunity to share my love for home decor on her blog. Although I’ve never actually met Disha, one thing I know for certain is that we share similar tastes and I’m so pleased to have made acquaintance with such a talented individual.

Hello everyone! My name is Shivangi Nagarajan, and I am a home decor enthusiast, a plant lover, and a Bharatanatyam dancer. I believe that art and beauty can be found in everything, be it in nature surrounding you, in art, or even in beautiful thoughts. My blog, “Kadak Chai Talks” is an amalgamation of my wanderings and ramblings as I explore design, art, and beauty. Being a student of dance has given me an aesthetic eye for detail and design, and I’ve tried to incorporate this in different ways in my humble abode.

Before I move on to share the details, I must say that I am not alone in this. My doting husband, Naren Ganesan, who also happens to be a Bharatanatyam dancer, helps me make decisions on decor choices for our home, and also shares a great eye for design. The below images and information will give you a glimpse into our temple, we call home.
There is a famous quote of Albert Einstein that goes:

"We Dance For Laughter,
We Dance For Tears,
We Dance For Madness,
We Dance For Fears,
We Dance For Hopes,
We Dance For Screams,
We Are The Dancers,
We Create The Dreams."

Dance is a language that requires less thinking and more feeling. It continually resonates like the ebb and flow of the sea. My husband and I share a passion for Bharatanatyam, and this admiration is reflected in our choice of decor and design in our home.
Ancient Indian temples were the birthing place of what is currently known as Bharatanatyam. These temples displayed skilful craftsmanship and most stood the test of time and can be seen even today. The below Vishnu statue is one such masterpiece that we recently added to our collection. This was purchased in Chennai by my husband during his last trip back home. You can see the attention to detail in the layers of his adornment and his serene eyes.

Dance in India mainly flourished under the reigns of many valorous kings and their dynasties. They patronised the art form and it was maintained by the devadasi system. I have heard stories from Indian historians and scholars about the survival of Bharatanatyam in South India and the important role played by the kings in helping dance thrive. These cushions are minimalistic in design and color, but the impressive handiwork and eye for detail make them a statement piece. The Raja and Rani perfectly compose our neutral loveseat.

When my husband and I laid our eyes upon the below horse statue, we immediately knew that it belonged in our home. The striking resemblance to some of the intricate sculptures seen in the temples of Tanjore immediately caught our fancy and of course, we had to bring him home.

Knowledge is often taken for granted, and its significance is usually realised only when we are lacking. Goddess Saraswathi, the giver of knowledge, most definitely belongs in a household that is cultivating and growing the dancers for tomorrow. This particular statue was our first purchase as a newly married couple and holds a special sentiment. 

Also, brass offers a rich contrast against the red console table, on which I am also featuring my latest DIY attempt, the Mughal royal cameo paintings.

Of course, any Bharatanatyam dancer’s collection would be incomplete without a statue of Nataraja, the cosmic dancer and destroyer of evil. Given to me as a gift/blessing by my guru upon the completion of my Rangapravesha, this too holds a spot in my heart. On the other end is his son, Ganapathi, the remover of obstacles, and what’s special is that this particular statue is “Narthana Ganapathi”, meaning the dancing Ganesha. The clock was a wedding gift and features a Kathakali dancer, another South Indian classical dance form.

My husband and I also painted this abstract tree on some fabric that we have postered on the feature wall of our basement, which is also where my husband conducts dance lessons for his students.

Whether you’re a dancer or not, I think Indian art forms should be continually revived and preserved for the future generations. One simple way to do this would be through adding such decor pieces into your own homes and narrating a charming tale, all in the same. So get out your tarnished brassware and decorate your home with the rustic charm of India’s age old traditions and culture. If I’ve left you craving for more desi-inspired eclectic decor, then head on over to kadakchaitalks!

That's totally brilliant Shivangi. Thank you so much for making the first month of the new year so special for 3D and sharing such an awe-inspiring article on Bharatanatyam and decor inspired by this divine dance form. 3D wishes you and Naren a very happy and fulfilling life ahead!!
Dear readers, I am sure this guest post has inspired you to decorate your home in a unique way. If you wish to see more of Shivangi's talent and beautiful corners of her home here are the links to her Instagram and Pinterest account. I am sure your you will find lots of eye candies there :)

See you all soon with a first and never seen before home tour of the new year. Will be sharing a teaser of it on my Instagram in a day or two. Stick around!!


P.S: Dance images of Shivangi are clicked by Jacqueline Karathra and of Naren are clicked by Shivangi Nagarajan. A ll the other images are clicked by Shivangi & Naren.
All images in this article are Shivangi's property and subject to copyright. Please seek prior written permission from her and 3D. Thanks!