A workshop on pushpanjali. In Bharatanatyam, Pushpanjali is a devotional dance performed at the beginning of a performance as an invocation to the deities, the guru, and the audience. It translates to "offering of flowers" and involves the dancer holding flowers and making salutations with folded hands (anjali) as a sign of respect. Pushpanjali is a key part of the Margam, the traditional Bharatanatyam repertoire, and sets the stage for the performance that follows. 

• Meaning:

  Pushpanjali literally means "flowers" (pushpa) and "folded hands" (anjali), signifying an offering of flowers with a gesture of respect. 

   
• Purpose:

  It's performed as a salutation to Lord Nataraja, the deity of dance, as well as to the guru, musicians, and audience. 

   
• Significance:

  Pushpanjali serves as a prayer for blessings, the elimination of obstacles, and a smooth performance. 

  Pushpanjali

The Arangetram performance typically begins with a dance called the Pushpanjali, which translates to "offering of flowers". In this dance, the performer offers flowers and salutations to the Hindu deities, the guru, and the audience as a mark of respect. The beginning of the dance symbolizes supplication, from which the dancer then commences the rest of the performance.

Part of Margam:

Pushpanjali is one of the seven stages (Margam) of a Bharatanatyam performance, followed by other items like Alarippu, Jatiswaram, and Varnam .