Bhubaneswar: The 21st edition of Dhauli-Kalinga Mahotsav, a three-day cultural extravaganza, took off to a colourful start with Odissi, Bharatnatyam and Mallakhamb artistes putting up impressive performances at the foothill of Dhauli Shanti Stupa, on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar on Friday.
The festival, one of the prestigious festivals of Odisha’s cultural calendar, is jointly organized by the Department of Odia Language, Literature & Culture, Government of Odisha, and Orissa Dance Academy, in association with Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi and Art Vision.
After the customary lighting the lamp ceremony attended by guests including Ekamra MLA Babu Singh, Srjan’s director Guru Ratikant Mohapatra and eminent musicologist Prof Guru Ramahari Das, Orissa Dance Academy felicitated eminent Odissi dancer Guru Durga Charan Ranbir, who was recently announced as a recipient of the prestigious Padma Shri award.
The inaugural evening’s cultural performances commenced with group Odissi dance recitals by the artistes of Soor Mandir, a premier Odissi dance and music institution of the state founded by eminent Odissi dancer Dr Jyotsna Sahoo.Their first item was Ganesh Vandana, written by P Shankaran Nambeesan, music composed by Agnimitra Behera and rhythm composed by Guru Dhaneswar Swain.
They followed it up by a scintillating performance ‘Barsha Abhishara’, written by Er Srinivas Ghatuary, music composed by Agnimitra Behera and rhythm composed by Guru Dhaneswar Swain. While both the items were choreographed by Guru Jyotsna Sahoo, the dances lived up to the expectation, leaving the dance connoisseurs and common audience mesmerized.
In the second phase of the evening, the artistes of Pavitra Art Visual Institute, Mumbai founded by Pavitra Bhatt came onto the stage to present there Bharatnatyam recitals.They commenced their performance with Melaprapti with Alaripu and Shri Vignarajam Bhaje, a praise of the Vighnavinashaka Ganapati for bringing in auspiciousness, based on Ragam Ghambeera Nattai and Talam Khandachappu.Melaprapti is rhythmic recital. In olden days each performance was started with Melaprapti followed by Alaripu.Next they presented Natanam Adinaar, where the dancers beautifully depicted what happens when Lord Shiva dances Ananda Tandav.
They concluded their presentation with Tillana, a pure dance piece where the dancers sculpted geometry pattern with lot of fast movements with a collage of intricate rhythm and musical patterns along with a short verse in praise of Shri Rama.
Setting a high standard for the evening, they had the art lovers in their thrall.
The evening concluded with a mesmerizing Mallakhamb performance by the artistes of Fate Fighters, Puri, under the direction of Gyana Ranjan Mohanty, who established the group in 2012.While showing breathtaking gymnastics on a vertical pole, they presented ‘Shiv Ganesh’, depicting the story of Lord Ganesh getting an elephant head.
The only Mallakhamb group in Odisha, Fate Fighters had earlier performed in India’s Got Talent, Entertainment Ke Liye Kuchh Bhi Karega, Best of Odisha and Sabash Odisha.
The event was anchored by Dr. (En.) Srinivas Ghatuari and Nazia Alam.
