PUNE: The people of Pune were immersed in the devotion of Lord Panduranga through a mesmerizing performance of Bharatanatyam that combines subtle facial expressions, powerful gestures, slow movements and classical music. FUEL Education organized “Mauli – A Timeless Tradition,” a festival exploring the relationship between devotion, tradition, art and spirituality, at the MES Auditorium, a statement released by the organization said.The event revived the spirit of Pandharpur Wari through a special performance by renowned Bharatanatyam dancer, composer and researcher Kalaimamani Bala Devi Chandrashekar.Through his performance, Bala Devi Chandrashekar demonstrated the great bond between Panduranga and his devotees. Along with graceful facial and hand movements, he demonstrated the depth of devotion through the unique mudra of Bharatanatyam. The presentation gave the audience an experience of the interconnectedness of nature.The play featured dance music based on the abhangs, ovis and bharuds of Sant Tukaram, Sant Dnyaneshwar, Sant Namdev and Sant Eknath Maharaj. Some of the popular songs include “Udand Pahile Udand Aikale,” “Sundar Te Dhyan,” “Roop Pahata Lochani,” “Khel Mandyala Valavanti Ghai,” “Kashi Jau Mi Vrindavan” and “Murali Vajavito Kanha.” Through the rich spirituality of Bharatanatyam, the history, culture and sentiments of the Pandharpur pilgrimage were vividly brought to life.Among those present at the event were Ketan Deshpande, Founder-President of FUEL Education, Mayuri Deshpande, CEO of FUEL Education; Sachin Ambardekar, CEO of Maharashtra Education Society among others.Speaking on the occasion, Kalaimamani Bala Devi Chandrashekar said, “Every artist draws inspiration and support from people. Therefore, artists have a responsibility to give back to the community. I have traveled from the United States to India to support the work being done by FUEL Education to empower women. I have not received any honor from this program.Deshpande said that the organization remains committed to empowering women from rural and disadvantaged areas by providing them with skills to help them and enable them to become financially independent. As part of our philanthropic activities, we aim to organize such programs every year. Instead of charging a fee, we will continue our efforts to get support from industry associations to keep these programs open and accessible to all.Bhakti Yoga is not limited to personal spiritual growth; it also encourages people to improve the lives of others. I am proud of the work of ‘Mauli’. We will continue to support programs that empower rural women through education and skills development. This program was designed by Smita Kulkarni. The audience responded enthusiastically, applauding the entire performance.