Bhubaneswar: The 15th edition of ‘Aekalavya’, a dance festival organized by Lasyakala-the institution founded by renowned Odissi dancer Saswat Joshi-was held at Rabindra Mandap here on Monday.
The festival was inaugurated by KIIT and KIIS founder Dr Achyuta Samant and director of Ruchi Foodline Rashmi Sahoo, who lit the auspicious lamp.
The highlight of the evening was the presentation of ‘Aekalavya Samman’ to eminent Odissi dancer Janhabi Behera, in recognition of her invaluable contribution to the field of classical dance.
The cultural evening got off to a fine start with Saswat Joshi presenting an evocative abhinaya ‘Mana Para Re’, brought to life by the soulful rendition of vocalist Shreejata Upadhyaya.
The seamless interplay of music and movement left the audience spellbound.
The following item was a graceful performance of ‘Amrapali’ by Odissi dancer and Ollywood actress Divyaa Mohanty. She captured the essence of the legendary courtesan with poise and passion.
The spotlight then turned to awardee Janhabi Behera who came onto the stage to present ‘Madhurastaka’, weaving spiritual fervour with classical elegance.
A rare treat came in the form of the age-old abhinaya ‘Nahin Ke Karidela’, choreographed by the legendary Adiguru Pankaj Charan Das and performed by his daughter-in-law, Suhag Nalini Das. The presentation was a poignant tribute to the guru-shishya parampara.
Then, young dancer Rinku Kumar Sahoo showcased his technical finesse in ‘Chhanda Prakash Pallavi’, which was met with resounding applause.
The evening came to an end on a vibrant note with a group Odissi dance recital by the well-trained dancers of the host institution, leaving the connoisseurs glued to their seats.
The anchor of the evening was Dr Mrutyunjay Rath.
