15th Biswa Odissi Utsav begins in Bhubaneswar

Kalasanskruti

Bhubaneswar: The 15th edition of Biswa Odissi Utsav, organised by Samskritiki Cultural Society in association with Odissi International Forum, a global network of Odissi dancers and Odissi dance institutions and supported by the Department of Odia language, Literature and Culture of Odisha Government, got off to a colourful start at Bhanjakala Mandap in Bhubaneswar on Monday.

This festival showcasing nearly 300 Odissi dancers from India and abroad who captivated the audience by their splendid performances. The objective of the festival is to experience the beauty and grace of Odissi dance presented by the dancers from across the globe.

The 15th annual edition of Biswa Odissi Utsav will continue till 26th December 2024 at Bhanja Kala Mandap, Bhubaneswar from 10 am to 10 pm every day.

The festival, that was launched in 2010 in Bhubaneswar as an annual union of the global Odissi family in the land of Odissi, is curated by journalist and dance critic Shyamhari Chakra who is the founder of Odissi International Forum and Samskritiki. Odissi International Forum has been hosting Odissi Utsavs in Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune, Hyderabad, Guwahati and Ranchi every year.

The four-day festival this year presents 115 solo dancers and 20 groups from different parts of India and from foreign countries like Taiwan, Japan, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Bangladesh and Africa.

First presentation of the inaugural morning session was Odissi solo dance under 10 category by Aaditri Behera from Bhubaneswar presented Abhinaya Dekha Go Sakhi Dekha followed by another Solo Odissi Dance by Shriyashree Mohapatra from Bhubaneswar presented Sthai Nato set to Raag – Bajrakanti and Taal- Khemta & Ektali, Music Composed by Guru Sarat Kumar Sahoo, Rhythm Composed by Guru Padma Charan Dehuri and Dance Choreographed by Guru Jyoti Rout.

Other Solo Odissi dancers under 10 category were Ishanvy Acharya from Bhubaneswar, B Githa Sriharini from Burla and B Janvi from Burla. Morning Session under 20 category dancers were Devanshi Priyadarshini Panda from Bhubaneswar, B Srinandini from Jajpur, Misba Anjum from Jajpur, Dibyansi Chaudhury from Keonjhar, Smruti Sudeshna Nayak from Kenojhar, Medha Samal from Sundargarh, Manaswini Biswal from Keonjhar, Jenifer Nancy Paswan from Keonjhar, Tanusri Panda from Keonjhar, Digbijay Biswal from Bhubaneswar and Swagatika Sahoo from Bhubaneswar.

Afternoon Session under 30 category first presentation was Solo Odissi dance by Bishwaranjan Nayak from Rourkela presented Abhinaya Minanayana, the Dance Choreographed by Guru Debaprasad Das and directed by Guru Sri Niladri Mohanty followed by another Solo Odissi dance by Tejaswini Dash from Cuttack presented Abhinaya Dasavatara. Next item was Group Odissi dance by the dancers of Sadhana Dance Institute of Bhubaneswar followed by Duet Odissi dance by Arpita Ganguly and her daughter Mihira Mitra coming from USA performed Mangalacharan – Pada Bande, the Dance choreographed by Padma Vibhushan Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, Music Composed by Sangeet Sudhakar Shri Balakrushna Das and Dance Directed by Guru Sujata Mohapatra.

Next item was Basant Pallavi presented by Lily Lu coming from Taiwan followed by Group Odissi dance by Sai Kala Kendra of Keonjhar, Adiguru Odissi Gurukul of Bhubanerswar, Jyoti Kala Mandir of Bhubaneswar and afternoon last item was Duet Odissi dance by Noor Raza and Tithibhadra Mohapatra, Berhampur.Evening Session first item was Solo Odissi dance by Suchismita Sahoo from Nrutya Naivedya, Bhubaneswar followed by Group Odissi dance by Adruta-RAWA Academy, Bhubaneswar presented Sivastaka, dance choreographed by Guru Dr. Deba Prasad Das and dance directed by Guru Sri Bharat Charan Giri.

Next item was Solo odissi dance by Srishti Upasana Sahu from USA presented Devgandhari Pallavi, dance choreographed by Guru Bichitrananda Swain music composed by Guru Ramhari Das, rhythm composed by Guru Dhaneshwar Swain, dance directed by Smt Stuti Sahu and Shri Lingaraj Pradhan followed by another Solo Odissi dance by Sanjitarani Santra, Oregon, USA presented Abhinaya Malli Mala Shyama Ku Debi.

Next item was Solo Odissi dance by Subhendu Kumar Dash from Bhubaneswar presented Agnee set to Raga-Raga Malika, Tala-Tala Malika. dance choreographed by Guru Puspita Mishra, music composed by Guru Dhaneswar Swain and Guru Sukanta Kumar Kundu.

Inaugural evening’s last presentation was Group Odissi dance by the dancers of Surya Gurukul of Bhubaneswar. They presented Mahisa Mardini set to Raga -Charukeshi Tala – Ekatali and Rupaktali, music composed by Krushna Chandra Roy, rhythm composed by Guru Dhaneswar Swain, Dance composed by Guru Amulya Balabanta Ray and dance directed by Guru Smt Sangeeta Chhotaray.

The dignitaries who graced the inaugural function were Smt. Sikata Das, Noted Odissi Danseuse and Former Chief Executive GKCM Odissi Research Centre; Shri Dhaneswar Swain, Eminent Mardala Player; Smt. Sujata Mohapatra, Eminent Odissi Dancer; Smt. Jyoti Rout, Eminent Odissi Dancer and Smt. Devjani Sen, Eminent Odissi Dancer. The entire festival is curated, conceptualized, and designed by Shyamahari Chakra, with punctilious programme execution by Sanghamitra Muduli, Sucheta Mishra, Dr. Pampi Poul, Monaswani Mohanty, Dinabandhu Pati and Swadhin Kumar.