Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai
Mumbai, Aug 3: Priyanjali Rao, a member of the Bombay South Kanara Brahmin Association (BSKBA), a former student of Chinnara Bimba in Mumbai, and an internationally acclaimed Bharatanatyam dancer, has added another milestone to her artistic journey by performing at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, bringing pride to the nation.
Selected through an audition, Priyanjali performed as India's Bharatanatyam artiste during the closing ceremony of the 2026 Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow on Sunday, August 2. The event also marked the official handover of the Commonwealth Games hosting responsibilities to Ahmedabad, India, for the next edition.
The grand cultural performance featured more than 100 artistes representing various Indian dance forms, including Bharatanatyam, Kathak and Bhangra. The programme was enhanced by the music of renowned singer Shankar Mahadevan, sitar recital by Rishabh Rikhiram Sharma, choreography by celebrated choreographer Shiamak Davar, and performances led by actress and model Manushi Chhillar. Another talented artiste from Dakshina Kannada, Kannada television and film actress Tanvi Rao, was also part of the troupe.
A resident of Khar West in Mumbai, Priyanjali Rao is the daughter of Vidya and R Rao and the granddaughter of the late A Bhujanga Rao and Tara B Rao. She developed a passion for Bharatanatyam under the guidance of her guru Revathi Srinivas Raghavan. Inspired by the rich devotional and cultural traditions of Thanjavur, the cradle of Bharatanatyam in South India, Priyanjali has mastered the classical dance form and earned acclaim through hundreds of performances.
She developed an interest in dance at a young age and actively participated in numerous cultural programmes during her school days. Having undergone intensive Bharatanatyam training over the past five years, she has received several awards and emerged as a widely appreciated classical dancer. Her performances across Karnataka, Maharashtra and various programmes in Mumbai during her school years stand testimony to her talent.
Priyanjali has presented several solo and group Bharatanatyam performances in India and abroad, earning widespread appreciation. In 2017, she had the rare honour of performing at a special event at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the then President, the late Pranab Mukherjee, an achievement that brought her special recognition.