I am lucky enough to come to Fukuoka, Japan where my mother lives two or three times in a year since I have become a freelance translator. Also, because I often return at the similar seasons, I happen to enjoy several annual events almost every year. 
 

After 15-minute of hyper cardio exercise, 
she was still energy to talk with the facilitator and joke with us!
If "Cool Japan" exists then she is "Cool India," I name it!

One of such events is Global Village, an annual Golden Week (big holiday season comes at this time of the year thanks to successive national holidays in Japan) held at Tenjin Chuo Park in the heart of Fukuoka City, where my friend who pursues Odissi dance almost for decades was invited for her performance. Recently, she participated in an international workshop happened in Hangzhou, China. According to her, there are merely three or four people know (learn) the East Indian classical dance in Fukuoka, and I bet she is one of the best and the most enthusiastic dancer.
 

My friend (left) and her student.

This year, she performed two dances; one was a duet with her student, and another was solo. 

Frankly speaking, I know little about Odissi or overall Indian traditional dances. Only I know is that it is, like other Indian classical dances, dedicated to God. It was my second opportunity to see her performance, and I felt her pure heart to the performance. In fact, her solo performance continued for about 15 minutes, and I never felt that long. My brain was calm and concentrating on her sensitive moves, like traveling in the universe. 
 

Moment of happiness with her friends who all admire her:
Among all, her husband almost dashed to catch every moment of
her performance since the beginning.

By the way, her silver ornaments were well polished and shiningly beautiful, which further inspired me to create my favorite design I found on the web a few days ago once I return to Pune. Maybe at P. N. Gadgil? 
 

Song and choreograph by: Guru Kasturi Pattanaik