dance (Hindu worship)

In Hindu tradition, the world was created by Shiva, whose aspects include Lord of the Dance, and dance often forms part of worship in a temple, along with music and songs of praise (bhajan and kirtan). Worshippers may dance spontaneously, or there may be more formal dances by troupes trained in one of the many forms of classical dance; these often recount stories from the great scriptural epics. Each hand gesture (mudra), movement, or facial expression will have a special meaning known to the audience. This sort of dance is not just entertainment; it is a form of worship in its own right, to recount stories about the gods.