Perini to be official dance of Telangana
The dance is performed only by men but one of its type, Perini Lasyam, is for women only.
HYDERABAD: The ancient dance form Perini will get its due in Telangana with the state government deciding to declare it as the official dance of the state.
In view of this development the Telugu University has decided to introduce a diploma course in Perini.
Vice-chancellor Prof. S.V. Satyanarayana said they had done the preparatory work in this regard and the course would commence from the next academic year.
It would be taught in all music and dance colleges run by the government, he said. “Perini Shivathanda-vam is performed only by men. However, Perini has seven other types that are only performed by women, Perini Lasyam being the more popular among them,” the V-C said.
Perini is a vigorous dance performed to the beats of drums. In Perini Shivathandavam, the dancers drive themselves to a state of mental abstraction where they feel the power of Lord Shiva in themselves.
The dance form had almost disappeared after the decline of the Kakatiya dynasty. Padmashri Dr Nataraja Ramakrishna was credited with rejuvenating Perini, which was on verge of extinction.
It may be mentioned that the Telangana government had earlier announced Thangedu (Cassia Auriculata), Jammi (Prosopis Cineraria), Pala Pitta (Indian Roller) as the official flower, tree and bird of the state respectively. A few weeks ago Murrel (Channa Striatus) was declared as the state fish.