Bhubaneswar: The temple city is all set to sway to the rhythms of classical dance and music as the 23rd edition of the Ekamra Nrutya Mahotsav gears up to unfold its cultural tapestry from April 21 to 24 at Utkal Rangamanch. The much-anticipated national-level festival has been a highlight on Odisha’s cultural calendar and promises yet another spellbinding showcase of India’s rich classical heritage.
Organized by Suravi, one of the country’s premier Odissi dance institutions founded by Guru Dr. Pitambar Biswal in 2003, the festival has consistently struck a chord with art connoisseurs for over two decades. This year, the stage is once again set for four evenings of soulful performances, featuring a stellar lineup of musicians and dancers from across India.
Staying true to tradition, the festival will also honour stalwarts of Indian classical arts. Padma Shri awardee Durga Charan Ranbir will be specially felicitated, while Smt Pranati Mohanty will be conferred with the ‘Suravi Samman’. Other prestigious accolades, the ‘Sri Dhirendranath Pattnaik Smruti Samman’ and ‘Guru Dayanidhi Behera Smruti Samman’, will be bestowed upon Guru Gobind Chandra Pal and Guru Swapneswar Chakraborty respectively.
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The inaugural evening will kick off with a soulful violin recital by Guru Prashant Kumar Padhi and Group from Bhubaneswar. The stage will then be graced by solo Odissi dance performances of Smt Bandita Ghoshal of Nrutyashala and Sanjeev Kumar Jena of Rudrakshya.
The second evening (April 22) promises a delightful mix of rhythm and grace, featuring Odissi solo by Smt Arpita Pani (Hyderabad), Kathak by Dr. V Anuradha Singh (Bhopal), and Odissi performances by Sripunya Mohanty and Soumya Bose from Bhubaneswar and Kolkata respectively.
On April 23, the third evening will open with a soothing flute recital by Soumya Ranjan Joshi, followed by solo Odissi dance renditions by Sridutta Bhola and Sourav Mohanty, representing Bhubaneswar’s vibrant dance academies.
The grand finale on April 24 will be marked by the much-awaited felicitation ceremony, followed by a captivating Odissi solo by Smt Pranati Mohanty and a vibrant group performance by the host institution, Suravi.
Guru Dr. Pitambar Biswal, the driving force behind the festival, is no stranger to accolades. His contribution to classical dance has earned him honours like the ‘Kala Bhushan’ (Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Agra), ‘Nrutya Shree’, ‘Radha Krushna Samman’, ‘Nrutya Siromani’, and ‘Natya Shree’, among many others. His performances have left footprints across prestigious stages nationwide, including the ‘Nishagandhi Dance Festival’ (Thiruvananthapuram), ‘Kakatiya Festival’ (Warangal), ‘Dusshera Festival’ (Kullu), ‘Konark Festival’ (Odisha), and ‘Chakradhar Samaroha’ (Chhattisgarh).
As Bhubaneswar prepares to come alive with the rhythm of ghungroos and the melody of ragas, the 23rd Ekamra Nrutya Mahotsav promises to be a cultural feast, no art lover would want to miss.
