The Closing of a Journey
The final day of our residency at Adi Shakti dawned with a bittersweet feeling. Eight days had flown by in a whirlwind of dancing, learning, and connecting, and now it was time to bring this chapter to a close.
We began the day with the usual rhythm of practice, but this time, the energy felt different—softer, more reflective. We had decided as a group to give Abhijeni a gift from Perth, a gesture of gratitude for her dedication and generosity over the past week. It was heartwarming to see how much she had bonded with us, not just as students but as individuals. Her genuine enjoyment of teaching us was clear, and in return, we felt deeply blessed to have shared this time with her.
That afternoon, during a short pause, we presented her with the gifts. Among them was a painting I had created in Perth—a piece depicting Ganesha, inspired by the energy and playfulness of the very dance we were learning. Her happiness upon receiving it was truly touching. I also remembered that on the second day of the residency, I had given her a copy of my book on the Karanas, hoping she would find it meaningful and perhaps share her thoughts with me one day. Upon receiving it she thanked me and said it will hold a very special place in her bookshelf. I remember thinking how wonderful she can make a nobody feel so special… I was just blown away.
A small part of me dreams of working with her on another book, perhaps one dedicated to the Charis—a vision for the future.
The final session of the day was both challenging and rewarding. Despite our exhaustion, we surprised ourselves with the stamina and endurance we had built over the past week. Each of us performed all the items we had learned, from the Guru Brahma and Yakundendu to the Arasa to the playful Ganesha piece and the intricate Pallavi. It was astonishing to see how far we had come, how our bodies had been conditioned and transformed through sheer practice and persistence.
After the session, we gathered outside to take photos, capturing the joy and camaraderie of the group. Some of us reflected on the lineage of teachers who had shaped our learning—Sanjuktaji and Kelucharanji—whose mastery of Odissi had nurtured and inspired us. These exchanges of memories and stories felt like a fitting conclusion to our time at Adi Shakti.
That evening, we celebrated with a meal at a cozy Italian restaurant, a moment to relax, laugh, and savor the bonds we had formed over the past eight days.