Upanayana project

Performance | In Progress

The upanayana, a Hindu ceremony defined as a rite of passage for Brahmin boys to manhood. Prior to the ceremony, the boy is dressed in the drag of a hindu woman as a ‘last’ opportunity to embody the feminine. The ceremony itself is a series of rituals including learning brahmanical chants and cutting of hair as a rebirth into the man’s dharma (duties to his caste). This project is a Bharatanatyam dance piece inspired by my lived experience as a seven year old queer boy undergoing this ritual, exploring the complex realities of manhood, sexuality and patriarchy.

A part of this greater project was shared in a work in progress showing facilitated by Modern Connections in June, 2024 at Jackson Dance Lab, Tufts University. "Raindrops on Brick" explores the innocent feelings of curiosity and play with dance and femininity before the character's journey through the religious rite of passage.