Margam

★ Essential

Sanskrit

The traditional order of a Bharatanatyam recital.

RepertoireBharatanatyam

Meaning

Margam means 'the path' — the sequence a full solo recital traditionally follows, moving from pure dance into expression and back: alarippu, jathiswaram, shabdam, varnam, padams and javalis, then tillana and mangalam. The order is credited to the Thanjavur Quartet in the 19th century. It is designed as an arc, warming the body, deepening into the varnam as the centrepiece, then releasing.

Related words

AlarippuThe opening item — the body unfolding, like a flower.TillanaThe brilliant closing item of pure dance.VarnamThe centrepiece — the longest and most demanding item.ArangetramA dancer's first full solo recital before an audience.PadamA slow expressional piece, usually of love or devotion.PallaviOdissi's item of pure dance, blossoming from stillness.

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