The Shukatunda hand gesture, shaped like a parrot’s beak, has two primary symbolic meanings in classical Indian dance. It can depict a parrot, symbolizing nature or love and it can also represent the act of shooting an arrow, often seen in heroic or mythological dance sequences. This gesture enriches dance performances by adding visual symbolism and narrative depth, allowing dancers to communicate actions or themes related to nature, mythology or heroism without using spoken words.