Bhubaneswar: The second edition of ‘Nritya Prajna Utsav’ unfolded with grace and grandeur at Bhanjakala Mandap in Bhubaneswar on Friday, leaving the art lovers thoroughly captivated.
Hosted by Nritya Prajna Charitable Trust, founded by renowned Odissi dancer Lucky Prajna Pratisthita Mohanty, a disciple of Padma Shri Smt Kumkum Mohanty, the festival continues to find its feet and gather momentum.
Having witnessed both editions, what I noticed is that Lucky has an eye for details, from curating artistes to orchestrating seamless arrangements, which sets this festival apart. For an event barely two years old, it is already punching above its weight.
The festival was spread over two sessions-afternoon and evening sessions. While the institution’s artistes performed in the afternoon session, the evening session brought the seasoned and guest performers to the fore.
The evening session witnessed the presence of eminent dignitaries such as legendary Odissi vocalist Padma Shri Dr. Shyamamani Devi Pattnaik as Chief Guest, chairman of Odisha Staff Selection Commission, Sudhakar Burgi (Retd. IAS); Deputy Director, Odia Language, Literature & Culture Department, Smt. Suchismita Mantry; former Director of All India Radio and Doordarshan Dr. Santanu Kumar Rath; Central Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee and eminent Mardal Guru Dhaneswar Swain and Lt. Col. Sonali Rath (Retd.) as Guests of Honour who lit the auspicious lamp, setting the tone for a memorable evening. Company Secretary, OREDA Ltd., and Advisor of the Trust. Jitendriya Mohanty and Lucky Prajna also shared the dais.
The highlight of the evening was the presentation of first ‘Nritya Prajna Samman’ and the recipient was none other than Guru Smt Kumkum Mohanty.
What followed was a moment to savour—her abhinaya performance of “Tora Sarana Galire Murali”.
Even at an advanced age, her artistry remains as captivating as ever, proving that true mastery only deepens with time. With impeccable precision and effortless grace, she held the audience spellbound. In this live presentation, she was ably supported by Srinivas Satapathy on the Flute, Muralidhara Swain on the Mardala, AgniMitra Behera on the Violin, Jayaguru Pradhan on the Manjira and Shyamali Lenka on the Vocal.
Keeping the ball rolling, Lucky Prajna and his eight disciples (Tejashree Mishra, Priyanshi sahoo, Tanaya Behera, Khyati Mohanty, Khyavna Mohanty, Arshi, Shreyana Das and Shreyanshi Das) next came into the stage to present ‘Bho Shambho’, an invocation of Lord Shiva, a contemplative composition by Swami Dayananda Saraswati, newly choreographed by Lucky Prajna, music composed by Guru Swapneswar Chakraborty and rhythm by Guru Satchidananda Das.
In this well-rehearsed item, the dancers’ executed the cosmic dancer’s synchronised movements, sculptural poses, and disciplined execution earned appreciative applause.
The art lovers were then treated to a group Mahari dance recital by eight artistes of ‘Naba Pratibha’, Puri, whose vibrant costumes and polished performance added sparkle to the evening. They presented ‘Shrita Kamala’ and ‘Dekho Go’. The dancers were Arpita Priyadarshini, Kumkum Sahoo, Devija Joyel, Swayanshi Rath, Gungun Tripathy, Sayesha Mohanty, Dipsha and Purbi Sthitaprajna.
This was followed by a refined Odissi Pallavi presentation by artistes of Geeta Govinda Charitable Trust, founded by Guru Smt Kumkum Mohanty. The dancers were Anandita Padhi, Naina Priyadarshini Ojha, Sakshi Moharana and Suzanae Mahek, whose fluid movements and spatial harmony made for a delightful watch.
The evening wrapped up on a high note with a vibrant Gotipua dance by the artistes of Aradhana Dance Academy, Bhubaneswar. Their gravity-defying acrobatics called ‘bandha nrutya’ left everyone in the auditorium wide-eyed and thrilled, bringing the festival to a fitting crescendo. The artistes were Amit Biswal, Abhiram Das, Akash Behera, Satyapriya Behera, Om Nahak and Pratyush Panda.
Trained under the watchful eyes of Padma Shri Kumkum Mohanty at Kala Vikash Kendra, Cuttack, Lucky Prajna has carved a niche as a compelling soloist. An ‘A’ grade artiste of Prasar Bharati, Lucky Prajna has participated in different prestigious festivals like Konark Festival, Mukteswar Dance Festival, Lumbibi Festival, Chakradhar Samaroha and Khajuraho Dance Festival.
He has also taken Odissi dance across continents, leaving aficionados spellbound. Lucky’s dance journey has been studded with appreciations and accolades including Odissi Yuva Gandharva Samman, Baishakhi Samman, Nrityabhushan, and Shreekshetra Nachuni Samman, to name a few. Yet he shows no signs of slowing down.Through the Nritya Prajna Public Charitable Trust, he is passing the torch to the next generation.
Going the extra mile, he has also embraced digital platforms to train underprivileged and orphaned students, proving that passion knows no boundaries.
