Bhubaneswar: The 18th edition of Guru Debaprasad Award Festival 2024, organised by Tridhara, one of the premier Odissi dance institutions which upholds the unique style of Guru Debaprasad Das, got underway at Rabindra Mandap in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.
This year, the three-day-long festival has been cut short to a two-day-long event, thanks to cyclonic storm Dana. It would otherwise have been inaugurated on Friday.
After the customary lighting the lamp ceremony, the evening commenced with the presentation of the prestigious Guru Debaprasad Lifetime Achievement Award 2024 to Padma Shri Guru Mayadhar Rout for his lifetime contribution in the field of Odissi Dance; Guru Gopal Chandra Panda in Odissi Music; Guru Harmohan Khuntia in Odissi Mardala and Dr. Ramesh Prasad Panigrahi lifetime contribution in Natya Sahitya. Similarly, Guru Debaprasad Prativa Award 2024 presented to Dr. Ajith Bhaskar (Bharatnatyam Dance), Ms. Rupa Rani Das Borah (Kathak), Shri Tejas Upadhye (Violin) and Shri Vickneshwaram Gonasergar (Odissi Dance).
The cultural evening started with a group Odissi dance by Datuk Ramli Ibrahim & Group of Sutra Dance Theater from KL, Malaysia. They presented Mangalacharan, Siva Tandaba followed by Radhakrusna Upakhyan. Their every movement of the body and each gesture of limb are analyzed with basic emotional steps, pattern of rhythm and foot movement to make the dance form more elegant, attractive and meaningful.
Next item was solo Bharatnatyam dance by eminent Bharatnatyam Exponent Dr. Ajith Bhaskar from JB, Malaysia. He presented Panchali Saptam based on Taal-Malika and Rag-Malika.
The following item was a solo Kathak dance by Ms Rupa Rani Das Borah, an eminent Kathak Danseuse. Her fist item was Ganesh followed by Traditional dance of Kathak style and her last item was Govardhan. Her every movement of the body and each gesture of limb are analyzed with basic emotional steps, pattern of rhythm and foot movement to make the dance form more elegant, attractive and meaningful.
The evening’s concluding item was Solo Violin recital by Shri Tejas Upadhye, Noted Violin Exponent. Based on various ragas and taals his violin playing was very heart warming.
The presentations were appreciated by the art lovers and common audience present in the auditorium.
The dignitaries who graced the occasion were Shri Bishnupada Sethi, Principal Secretary, Odia Language, Literature and Culture; Prof. Prasanna Kumar Swain, Vice Chancellor, Utkal University of Culture; Dr. Tirupati Panigrahi, Chairman, Hi-Tech Group of Institutions; Shri Suresh Chandra Panda, Former CEO, Prasar Bharati; Shri Sudhir Ranjan Mishra, Head of Corporate Communication, Paradeep Phosphate Limited; Simanchala Panda, Working President, Tridhara and Guru Gajendra Panda, Director, Tridhara.
The programme was anchored by Punyadarshan Sahoo.
Photo courtesy: Tridhara
