Konark: The fourth evening of the 36th Konark Festival, hosted by the Department of Tourism, Government of Odisha, in collaboration with Sangeet Natak Akademi and Odisha Tourism Development Corporation, unfolded on Thursday with a captivating celebration of classical dance traditions.
Set against the spellbinding silhouette of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Sun Temple of Konark, the performances cast a magical spell on the art lovers who had gathered from far and wide.
The evening opened on a soulful note with the presentation of Manipuri dance by the artists of Bimbavati Devi’s Manipuri Dance Theatre, Kolkata. Smt. Bimbavati Devi, a torchbearers of the art form, brought to life ‘Lilakamla’, a composition inspired by the traditional Gosthali dance, originally created by legendary musician Guru Bipin Singh.
Through fluid movements and artistic brilliance, the dancers retold the episodes of Lord Krishna’s life, seamlessly blending dance, rhythm, and music rooted in the Vaishnava traditions of Manipur. The choreography, designed by Smt. Bimbavati Devi, offered an immersive journey steeped in Manipuri heritage.
The stage then transitioned into the sculpted elegance of Odissi dance, presented by Guru Bharat Charan Giri and the artistes of Bharati Nrutya Mandir, Bhubaneswar. They commenced their presentation with ‘Charukeshi Pallavi’, showcasing the lyrical beauty of the raga through refined and graceful movements and rhythmic complexity. The item, choreographed by Guru Bharat Charan Giri, musical composition by Guru Dr. Vijay Kumar Jena, and rhythmic arrangements by Guru Dhaneswar Swain and Guru Ajay Kumar Chowdhury, hit all the right chords.
The troupe followed it up with ‘Gajanan’, a stirring narrative of the divine saga of Lord Ganesha, from Indra’s pride and the curse of Sage Durvasa to Ganesha’s beheading and rebirth with the head of a young elephant. The performance, choreographed by Guru Bharat Charan Giri with music by Guru Dr. Vijay Kumar Jena and rhythm compositions by Guru Dhaneswar Swain and Guru Ajay Kumar Chowdhury, struck a chord with the audience who responded with warm applause.
The chief guests for the evening included Smt. Anu Garg, Development Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Odisha; Balwant Singh, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Tourism Department; and Demarai Phankwal, General Manager, East Coast Railway. The dignitaries lit the ceremonial lamp near the Jagannath idol. Minister of Law, Works and Excise, Prithiviraj Harichandan, felicitated the performing teams.
Meanwhile, at Chandrabhaga Beach, the 15th International Sand Art Festival continued to attract enthusiastic visitors. The theme for the day was Unique India for male artists and Odisha Tourism for female artists. Sand sculptors from across the country and abroad showcased their talent through breathtaking artistry.
As the curtains prepare to come down tomorrow, art lovers can look forward to Odissi performances by Guru Aarti Kar and her team from Utkal Dance and Research Academy, followed by Kathak presentations by Sanjukta Sinha and her troupe from the Sanjukta Sinha Dance Company. The Department of Tourism continues to welcome audiences to experience Odisha’s vibrant cultural heritage in this grand confluence of art, rhythm, and tradition come together under one roof.
