New Delhi: Malaysian citizen and renowned Bharatnatyam performer Sri Ganesan collapsed during a cultural event here on Friday and was declared dead at the city hospital. Ganesan, who is also the director of Sri Ganesalaya in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was in attendance at the three-day Devadasi Dance festival held at Bhanja Kala Mandap to accept an award from a cultural group. The function was supposed to end today.
Sri Ganesan, a dancer of around 60 years of age, reportedly fainted on stage while lighting a lamp after performing. An official said that he was taken directly to the Capital Hospital where he was declared dead.
"His (Ganesan) death could be due to sudden cardiac arrest. His body has been kept for postmortem tomorrow morning,", stated a doctor at the Capital Hospital.
"He was in good health and performed a Bharatnatyam recital based on the Geet Govinda today evening. Unfortunately he collapsed whle lighting the lamp on stage," said event producer Jagabandhu Jena.
Ganesan served as president of the Malaysia Barathanatyam Dance Association.