Hansrajh "Butterfly" Lukhan: a 60 year odyssey in traditional Indian dance

AT 76 years old, Hansrajh Lukhan, who is also known as "Butterfly" and "Blondie", is not ready to hang up his dancing shoes.

A well-known name in South Africa’s traditional dance circles, Lukhan’s six-decade-long journey from village stages to national acclaim is a story of passion, perseverance, and cultural pride.

"I feel young, energetic, and excited. Every time I am on stage feels like the first time," said Lukhan, an active member of the renowned Flash Entertainers, a chutney and nagara group.

“The love that I get from near and far is overwhelming.”

Lukhan, of Phoenix, started dancing in the late 1960s.

His entry into the world of traditional music and performance was inspired by Hindi films and family functions where, as a child, his cousins dressed him up to dance.

Lukhan's love for the art form was sealed at a Diwali show in Northdene, Queensburgh, where he participated in a Ramayan sketch. 

“That show lit the spark in me. My cousins and I acted and danced, and that performance made me want to join the Riverside Sanathan Dancing Company."

He began his formal journey with the dancing company at age 18. After its closure in 1983, he co-founded Ronnie Bhai and Party with the late Mothilal Dwarka, known as Ronnie Bhai.

“Ronnie Bhai saw something in me and said I could be a dancer and go far. He taught me to sing, to be confident, and to own the stage.”

After Dwarka’s death in 2000, Lukhan took a hiatus, mourning the loss of his friend and mentor. 

“I had no will to return to the stage without him but after encouragement from fans and community members, I joined Flash Entertainers in June 2001 and continue to perform with them today, even travelling to India in 2015."

Lukhan's form of dance draws from deep-rooted Indian traditions brought to South Africa by indentured labourers. 

In the past, cultural conservatism in villages meant that men often dressed as women and performed religious plays or dances, as women were not allowed to participate in public performances.

“These traditions were brought by our forefathers and have continued over the generations. Men cross-dress to give gratitude to Goddess Saraswathi and to honour the Divine Mother in her various forms. Kirtan is a sacred dance performed with devotion. It is not just entertainment, it is spiritual." 

He said dance had given him an identity. 

"People know me because I’m a dancer. I am not ashamed of it. My children were never ashamed either. That support kept me going."

But the journey was not always smooth. Coming from a musical background, Lukhan faced opposition from his family for dancing publicly in women’s attire.

“My brothers were not happy with my choice and made it clear. My older brother disciplined me and forced me to leave, but I had made my choice. I stuck with it.”

Despite societal pressures and being called derogatory names, Lukhan stood firm. 

“I was born a man, and I will die as a man. The insults did not matter to me."

He said his wife, whom he was introduced to, happened to be Dwarka’s younger sister. 

“People stopped mocking me after our daughter was born in 1986. My wife and I have now been happily married for over 42 years.”

Known by nicknames like "Butterfly" and "Blondie", Lukhan's flexible movements and flamboyant stage presence have made him a legend. 

"They called me Butterfly because I used to move like a butterfly and float on the stage. I also used to hold the sides of my skirt open like the wings of a butterfly and my movements used to cover the whole stage. I was also referred to as Blondie because I used blonde wigs."  

He styles and dresses himself, draping his own saris and doing his own makeup for performances. His two grandchildren, he said, were amazed when they saw him transform from a man into a woman. 

"It is one of the highlights of seeing their wonder.”

Though health issues have slowed him down in recent years, Lukhan is not ready to retire just yet. 

“I planned to stop in December 2024 but I am still dancing. The Flash Entertainers team refused to let go of me. The music gives me peace of mind. It keeps me happy.”

His children and grandchildren have yet to follow in his footsteps, but Lukhan remains hopeful.

“I love to promote my culture and encourage youth to learn about our traditions and religion instead of going down the wrong path. I do not want to keep my talent to myself. I am all for teaching and passing down knowledge to anyone who wants to learn.

“I may be from the older generation, but I have adapted. The younger dancers give me love and respect, and I give them my blessings. I do not think I can ever retire, not when the stage still calls my name."

Lukhan, who retired from his job as a spray polisher at Grafton Everest in 2008 after 36 years of service, said for him, the stage was a sacred space. 

“I fast and abstain from meat and any substances. What I do may be entertainment to others, but to me, it is my spiritual connection with God.”

The POST