Bhubaneswar: The 20th edition of Sangam Festival organised by Art Vision, a premier Odissi dance institution in the state founded by Dr. Ileana Citaristi in 1997, was held at Rabindra Mandap, Bhubaneswar on September 21.
The festival was inaugurated through lighting of the lamp by the esteemed guests Dr. Priyambada Mohanty Hejmadi, Former Vice Chancellor, Sambalpur University and eminent Odissi dancer; Debi Prasanna Pattanayak, Indian Professor and Linguist; Shri Subhransu Panda, Publisher, Pen In Book; Dr. Hiranmayee Mishra, Writer and Dr. Ileana Citaristi, Secretary, Art Vision. On this occasion eminent writer Dr Priyambada Mohanty Hejmadi launched the Odia translation of Ileana’s autobiography Gotie Jibana Dui Janama. The book has been translated from the original English version My Journey a Tale of Two Births by Hiranmayee Mishra and published by Pen In Book, Bhubaneswar.
The evening first dance presentation was Odissi dance by the dancers of Art Vision. They presented two productions choreographed by Guru (Dr.) Ileana Citaristi and dedicated to the beauty and melodic richness of traditional raga belonging to the Odissi classical music. The first Saptaswara depicts the origin of the seven musical notes from the animal world and the second Bachanika based on traditional poems from Odia literature describes the verbal duel between Lakshmi and Jagannath on the day the Lord returns to Srimandir, on the last day of the Ratha Yatra.
Evening’s last presentation was Kathak dance by internationally acclaimed dance duo Smt. Nirupama Rajendra & Sri. T.D Rajendra and their Abhinava Dance company from Bangalore presented Hari Hara a dance production that portrays the different characteristics of Hari (Vishnu) and Hara (Shiva) through duets and jugalbandis performed in the classical styles of Kathak and Bharatnatyam. Hari Hara is conceived, artistically directed, and choreographed by Smt. Nirupama Rajendra & Sri. T.D Rajendra. The programme anchored by Dr. Sangita Gosain.
The festival has been conducted annually by Art Vision since the year 2005. In the past years eminent dancers from all over India had shared their group creatives in the different styles of Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Mohiniattam, Kuchipudi and Contemporary dance.
