Bhubaneswar: The ninth edition of two-day Nrutya Naivedya Odissi Utsav started at Bhanjakala Mandap on Monday with much fervour.
Organised every year by Nrutya Naivedya, a Bhubaneswar-based Odissi dance institution established by renowned Odissi dancer, choreographer and Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar awardee Pravata Kumar Swain, the festival has become a significant event in the cultural calendar of the city.
The inaugural evening began with the customary lamp lighting ceremony in the presence of dignitaries like eminent Odissi dancer Guru Niranjan Rout, music director Laxmikant Palit, Mardala exponent Guru Sachidanand Das, Odissi dancer Guru Meera Das, art critic Shyamhari Chakra and Odissi dancer Guru Prativa Panda attended as esteemed guests. The host institution’s president Mardala exponent Guru Dhaneswar Swain and founder Pravata Kumar Swain also graced the dais.
The evening got off to a fine start with a solo Odissi dance recital by Aniket Pallav Nayak, a disciple of Guru Pravata Kumar Swain.
He commenced his presentation with a Pallavi, based on Raga Asavari and Tala Ektali, choreographed by Guru Pravata Kumar Swain, music composed by Guru Sukanta Kumar Kundu and rhythm by Guru Dhaneswar Swain. ‘Pallavi’ is a pure dance where a raga is elaborated with intricate and rhythmic footwork and lyrical body movements.

His clarity of movements and expressions reflected the training imparted at Nrutya Naivedya. He followed it up with an abhinaya ‘Lalita Labanga Lata’ from Jayadeva’s Gita Govinda. This bhava-laden abhinaya, choreographed by Guru Pravata Kumar Swain, music by Dr Nazia Alam and rhythm by Guru Dhaneswar Swain, left the connoisseurs glued to their seats.
The second performer of the evening was Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar awardee Madhusmita Mohanty, groomed at Orissa Dance Academy under the watchful eyes of Padma Shri recipient Guru Aruna Mohanty.

She presented ‘Bhumisuta’, set to Raga Ragamalika and Tala Talamalika, choreographed by Guru Aruna Mohanty, music composed by Rupak Kumar Parida and Guru Bijay Kumar Barik, text by Kedar Mishra and light design by Ramesh Chandra Jena. Her portrayal of the episode from the Ramayan where Sita returns to the Earth after she is told that she has to undergo an Agni Pariksha as people are doubting her purity and chastity following her rescue from Lanka moved the art lovers deeply.
Next, Priyanka Jena, a disciple of Guru Smt Meera Das, the founder of Gunjan Dance Academy, came onto the stage to present Kirbani Pallavi, choreographed by Guru Meera Das, music by Srinivas Satpathy and rhythm by Guru Sachidanand Das.

With her grace, precision and lyrical body movements, she immediately captivated the art lovers. Her next presentation was an abhinaya ‘Sakhi Tava Virahe’ from Jayadeva’s Gita Govinda, choreographed by Smt Meera Das and music by Subash Pani, which she executed with excellent mukhabhinaya.

The concluding item of the evening was a duet Odissi dance recital by Akankhya Dash and Bibhu Prasad Behera, disciples of Guru Niranjan Rout.They presented ‘Panchabhuta’ (five elements), choreographed by Guru Niranjan Rout, music by Sumanta Mohanty and rhythm by Guru Dhaneswar Swain.