Bhubaneswar: In remembrance of Guru Debaprasad Das, Tridhara, Bhubaneswar, in association with Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Odissi Research Centre, organised two-day-long 37th Shradhanjali Samaroha at Rabindra Mandap and Utkal Rangmanch in Bhubaneswar on July 15 and 16 respectively.
Tridhara, an Odissi dance institution founded by Guruji, observes Shradhanjali Samaroha every year on July 15 to mark the death anniversary of Guruji. Guru Gajendra Panda, a disciple of Guruji and torch bearer of his legacy,is the main force behind the festival.
The festival witnessed the participation of more than 800 artistes of more than 75 institutions.
The first day of the festival, held at Rabindra Mandap, was divided into two sessions. The afternoon session witnessed some scintillating performances by Shreya Shradhanjali, Nrutyasree (Karanjia), Lingaraj Kala Niketan (Puri), Bagmishree Das, Rawa Dance Academy (Bhubaneswar), Nrutyalaya (Bhubaneswar), Nrutyadham (Bhubaneswar), Suravi (Bhubaneswar), Shree Dance Academy (Bhubaneswar) and Nrutya Prativa (Bhubaneswar).
In the evening session, after the customary lighting the lamp ceremony attended by Satyabrata Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Odia Language, Literature and Culture; Ashok Kumar Tripathy, Former Administrator; Pandit Prosenjit Poddar, Secretary, Hindusthan Art & Music Society; Madhusudan Das, Special Secretary, Odia Language, Literature and Culture; Simanchala Panda, Working President, Tridhara and Guru Gajendra Panda, Director, Tridhara, the gurus of all the participating institutions were felicitated by the guests.
Then the cultural evening started with the inaugural item presented by the senior dancers of Tridhara, Bhubaneswar followed by Bharatnatyam dance by Ms. Jhinook Mukherjee Sinha, duet Odissi dance performed by Guru Kavita Mishra & Shri Raju Mishra, Ms. Sanghamitra Singh, dancers from Bhubaneswar Kala Kendra and dancers of Nrutya Bilash.
On July 16 morning, the esteemed gurus, distinguished guests, disciples and well-wishers garlanded the statue of Guru Debaprasad Das on the premises of Utkal Sangita Mahavidyalaya.
In the morning session at Utkal Rangmanch, the institutions and dancers participated were Junior Group of Tridhara, Bhubaneswar along with Surjyajyoti Kala Kendra (Bhubaneswar), Kala Vikash Kendra (Cuttack), Bhairav Kala Kendra (Berhmapur), Utkalika Nrutyanusthan (Berhmapur), Sangeeta (Jatani), Angahar Nrutyayana (Berhmapur), Shreekhetra Odissi Nrityabhumi (Durgapur, WB), Nrutyapranam (Nayagarh), Saranchana (Berhmapur), Utkalika Sangeet Academy (Nirakarpur), Sagarika Kala Niketan, (Paradeep), Nrutya Prava Dance Academy (Jatani), Trinetra Kala Kunja, (Choudwar), Odissi Ashram (Kolkata, WB), Ms. Ipsita Mohanty, Nrutyam (Hinjilikatu), Nrutya Shreedhara (Raipur, Chhattisgarh), Maheswar Kala Kendra (Kiriburu, Jharkhand), Nirmala Kala Kendra (Berhmapur), Mihir Dance Academy (Aska), Nrutyadhara (Berhmapur), Nrutya Nipuna (Bhubaneswar), Sanskrutika Kala Niketan (Berhmapur), NCDA (Angul), Nrutyankshi (Bhubaneswar) and Aradhya Dance Academy (Ganjam).
Similarly, in the afternoon session, talented dancers of Shree Jagannatha Odissi Kala Kendra (Paralakhemundi, Gajapati), Nirjhara Cultural Academy (Bhubaneswar), Sri Sai Dance Academy (Nirakarpur), Odissi Nrutyayana (Berhmapur), Odissi Sadhana Pitha (Berhmapur), Biswanath Sangeetalaya (Cuttack), Natraj Kala Mandir (Phulbani), Nrutya Mayuri (Cuttack), Mokshya (Bhubaneswar), Natyashastra (Bhubaneswar), Tribhanga Kala Niketan (Bhubaneswar), Om Kalinga Kala Parishad (Bhubaneswar), Srimayee Nrutyanusthan (Bhubaneswar) and Nrutya Tritha Academy (Bhubaneswar) enthralled the audience.
In the valedictory session, a packed auditorium was entertained by senior dancers of Tridhara, Bhubaneswar, Ms. Bagmishree Das (Granddaughter of Guru Debaprasad Das), Nrityabash Prerana (Vardhaman, WB), Devasruta Odissi Academy (Ranchi, Jharkhand), Om Art Dance Academy (Ahemadabad), Avantika Dance Academy (Bhubaneswar), UDRA (Bhubaneswar), Nrutyarchana Dance Academy (Bhubaneswar), Debadhara (New Delhi) and Debaprasad Kala Tirtha (Berhmapur).
The distinguished guests present in the concluding evening were Prashanta Nanda, Hon’ble MP (Rajya Sabha); Sulata Deo, Hon’ble MP (Rajya Sabha), Subodh Chandra Acharya, Chief Executive, GKCM Odissi Research Center; Pandit Prosenjit Poddar, Secretary, Hindusthan Art & Music Society and Guru Dr. Gajendra Kumar Panda, Director, Tridhara.
Chandan Sahoo was the emcee of both evenings.
The objective of organising the festival is to pay homage to Guruji through performances by institutions and dancers who are spearheading Guruji’s legacy.
