Bhubaneswar: The spirit of tradition came alive as Guru Sishya Nrutya Parampara 2025, oprganised by Nrutyapranam Odissi Dance Academy, was held for the first time in Bhubaneswar at Jayadev Bhawan on Tuesday.
The festival was inaugurated with lighting the auspicious lamp by Dasarathy Satapathy, retired IAS officer, Guru Gajendra Panda, eminent Odissi dancer and director of Tridhara, Odissi dancer Guru Suresh Kumar Khuntia, director of Nrutyarchana.
While Tapan Kumar Bhoi, president of Nrutyapranam, presided the meeting, Kishore Chandra Das, secretary of the host institution and Guru Smt Lima Das, founder of the institution, shared the dais.
The guests extended their blessings for the institution’s bright future.
About fifty dancers from different parts of the state participated in the festival and left the art lovers entertained.
The evening witnessed a bouquet of of solo, duet and group presentations. While in Mangalacharan, ‘Ganesha Vandana’ ‘Mahakalidhyana’ etc were presented, abhinayas like ‘Mita Chanhare…’, ‘Kede Chhanda Jane Lo Sahi…”, ‘Shiva Stutee’ made the evening an entertaining one.
The evening also featured presentation of ‘Sthayee’, a pure dance item in Odissi repertory, folk and tribal dances.
Nrutyapranam, the brainchild of Guru Smt Lima Das, has been organising the Guru-Sishya Nrutya Parampara in Nayagarh for the past eight years, but this year marked its grand shift to the capital.
Guru Das, who began learning Odissi at the tender age of four under Guru Durga Prasad Panda and later under Guru Gajendra Panda, has carved a niche for herself on prestigious stages both within and outside the state.
Her students have also done her proud, clinching awards and accolades at various competitions and festivals.
Her another identity is she is husband of young Odissi dancer Sagar Kumar Khuntia and daughter-in-law of Odissi guru Suresh Kumar Khuntia, reflecting how the dance tradition flows seamlessly through her family, embodying the true spirit of the guru-sishya parampara.
