Dr. Kumari Somashekhari

🪔 About

Dr. Kumari Somashekhari is a distinguished Indian classical dancer, born in West Germany near Heidelberg, into a family of pious intellectuals and artists. From a young age, she harbored a deep spiritual inclination, seeking the meaning of life. Her spiritual journey led her to Sadgurudev Shri Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati in Switzerland, who initiated her into Sanatana Dharma and bestowed upon her the name "Kumari Somashekhari." Under her Guru's guidance, she began intensive studies in Indian Classical Dance and Music. She received comprehensive training in Bharatanatyam, Odissi, and Kathak. Her Bharatanatyam and Odissi training included tutelage from world-renowned Gurus such as Dr. Yamini Krishnamurti and Dr. Minati Mishra. She also underwent intensive training in North-Indian Kathak Dance from various Gurus across Jaipur, Mathura, Calcutta, Lucknow, and Benares, earning a Prabhakar Title from Prayag Sangeet Samiti, Allahabad. In recent years, she further specialized in Bharatanatyam Temple-Dances under Gurus like Shri Deepak Mazumdar and "Kalaimamani" Sri J. Suryanarayana Murthy. Dr. Somashekhari has dedicated her life to the devotional aspect of Indian Classical Dance, aiming to revive the ancient Temple-Style and propagate dance as a form of Sadhana for God-Experience. She is the Director of the Omkarananda Saraswati Natya Kala Academy in Muni-ki-reti, Rishikesh, an institution affiliated with Prayag Sangeet Samiti for examinations in Indian Classical Dance and Music. Through this academy, she has provided free training in Bharatanatyam, Odissi, and Kathak to hundreds of children. Beyond dance, Dr. Somashekhari is also trained in Indian Classical Music, including Carnatic Vocal Music, Hindustani Vocal Music, and playing the Tambura and Veena. She is the General Secretary of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas and regularly performs Bharatanatyam Temple-Dances in the Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir and other venues. Her performances have been broadcast on Indian and international television channels and featured in documentary films. She holds Indian citizenship and has been honored with numerous awards, including "Guru-Bhakti-Ratna," "Kalanidhi," "Mahila Shiromani Award," "Natya Ratna Award," "Rashtra Shakti Award," "Bharatiya Shastriya Nritya Shiromani Award," and the "National Award for Promotion of Art & Culture," as well as an Honorary Doctorate from the Government of India. Awards & Honours: Guru-Bhakti-Ratna, Kalanidhi, Mahila Shiromani Award, Natya Ratna Award, Rashtra Shakti Award (2008), Bharatiya Shastriya Nritya Shiromani Award for Excellence in Indian Classical Temple-Dance and Vedic Culture (2019), National Award for Promotion of Art & Culture (2023), Honorary Doctorate Award (Honoris Causa) in the field of Arts and Culture.