Bhubaneswar: Swornabhumi, a Bhubaneswar-based Odissi dance and music institution, hosted its maiden ‘Swornabhumi Dance and Music Festival’ at Bhanjakala Mandap in Bhubaneswar on Thursday, drawing art lovers to an evening steeped in rhythm and tradition.
The festival was inaugurated by esteemed guests including eminent Odissi dancer and CSNA awardee Guru Dr Snehaprava Samantaray, founder of Kidsville Play School Biswaranjan Jena, Chartered Accountant Alok Dash, Vice President of BJP Mahila Morcha Prof (Dr) Priti Prativa Bhol, Chairman of Saraswati Sishu Mandir Akshaya Kumar Behera and Comptroller of Finance of RD Women’s University Smt Meetarani Bishwal. Guru Prashanta Kumar Behera, the founder of Swornabhumi, was also present on the dais.
Guru Behera began his journey as a Gotipua dancer at the age of four under Guru Mahadeb Rout and Guru Goutam Mohapatra. Later, he had the opportunity to learn Odissi dance from stalwarts like Padma Shri awardee Guru Gangadhar Pradhan, CSNA awardee Guru Snehaprava Samantaray, Padma Shri awardee Guru Aruna Mohanty and celebrated Odissi dancer Guru Manoranjan Pradhan.
A gold medalist and PhD holder in Odissi dance from Utkal University of Culture, Guru Behera has performed at many prestigious festivals in India and abroad and received awards and accolades.
After the ceremonial lighting the lamp ceremony, the guests heaped praises on Swornabhumi for propagating Odissi dance across the globe and nurturing the next generation of dancers.
What followed next was the felicitation ceremony. Noted Odissi dancer Guru Manoranjan Pradhan and eminent Mardala player Guru Satchidananda Das were honoured with Nrutya Swornabha Samman (in memory of Guru Gangadhar Pradhan) and Badya Swornabha Samman (in memory of Guru Mahadeb Rout) respectively.
The cultural evening took off on a high note with a spellbinding Mardala recital by Guru Satchidananda Das and his son-disciple Arup Das. They delighted the audience with a neat presentation of Aditala of 16 beats punctuated with bols or ukutas with showcasing the special use of traditional musical phases like ‘jamana’, ‘khandi’, ‘arasa’, ‘bhaunri arasa’, ‘dharana’ and ‘ragada’ set to 16 beat cycles.
With their presentation of different types of mana (tiahi) like ‘abiram mana’, ‘biram mana’, ‘lagana mana’ and ‘bhaunri mana’, they transported the audience to a different world. Muralidhar Swain lent them a good support on the Harmonium.
The next performance was a group Odissi dance recital by the students Swornabhumi. They presented Mangalacharan ‘Namami Vighnaraja’, choreographed by legendary Odissi dancer Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, music by Pandit Bhubaneswar Mishra and direction by Guru Prashanta Kumar Behera.
The dancers’ space management and synchronization left the audience enthralled.
Keeping the tempo of the evening, young and talented Odissi dancers Shravani Mohanty and Ipsita Mohanty, both students of Pradakshina, an Odissi dance institution established by Guru Anshuman Mishra, presented ‘Aravi pallavi’, set to Raga Aravi, Tala Ektali, choreographed by Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra and music by Pandit Bhubaneswar Mishra.
Their carefully executed piece was a delight to watch, drawing loud applause.
The spotlight then shifted to a group Odissi presentation by five senior dancers of Debadasi Dance Institution established by Guru Rojalin Mohapatra.
They presented an abhinaya ‘Meera’. The item reflected their maturity and artistic finesse. Both seasoned and common audience enjoyed it.
Adding a vibrant touch to the evening, the students of Swornabhumi brought a bouquet of scintillating performances including ‘Sthayee’, ‘Nagendra Haraya’, ‘Ki Sundara Aha’ and Sambalpuri folk dances, which left the art lovers captivated. All the dance items were directed by Guru Prashanta Kumar Behera.
The curtains on the festival came down on a high note with a promise of an even grander celebration next year.
The anchor of the evening was Er (Dr) Srinivas Ghatuary.
