"Yarrukum Adangatha Neeli" by Akshaya Ganesan

        "Yaarukkum Adangatha Neeli is a padam in which the Goddess Kali is portrayed to not be bound by anyone. Goddess Kali, also known as Shakti, represents pure divine female power. In fact, the word ‘Shakti’ in Sanskrit means energy or power. She is the great divine mother who is responsible for the creation, maintenance, and destruction of the Universe. In this piece, she dances in Chidambaram (Tamil Nadu, India) and represents the feminine energy and the dynamic forces that move through the universe. Shakti, who is responsible for creation, is often manifested to destroy demonic forces and restore balance. From the moment I started learning this piece, I was amazed by the extent of which my culture encompasses many of today’s modern controversial topics, and as a young female dancer, it brings me so much joy and pride to be able to dance and portray a Goddess that symbolizes the power and strength of many young women in the world. Dancing this piece has brought an intense meaning to the simple word ‘woman’ which at the end of the day, makes me feel proud and empowered to be able to say ‘I am an Indian woman.’"