Ranchi: The fourth edition of Sanskriti National Dance Festival and Seminar concluded at NIAMT auditorium at Hatia on November 23.
The two-day festival, organised by Sanskriti, one of the premier cultural institutions in the state, kicked off on November 22, with renowned singer Suparna Barua gracing the inaugural ceremony as the chief guest and inaugurating the event.
On the inaugural evening, a huge number of art lovers tuned up who were treated to a bouquet of vibrant and scintillating folk, Bharatanatyam and Kathak performances.
The concluding evening was no spectacular with dignitaries including eminent Odissi dance guru Dr. Manoj Kumar Behera, Odissi exponent Mrs. Sabita Mishra and Swami Pranabananda Choudhary attending the event.
The valedictory ceremony opened with the lighting of auspicious lamp. The guests, while addressing the gathering, heaped praises on Sanskriti for its untiring efforts to preserve and propagate India’s cultural and dance heritage. The organisers also expressed their vision of hosting the festival on an even grander scale in the coming years.
Next, performers from different parts of India performed spellbinding folk, Odissi, Bharatanatyam and Kathak dance items, leaving the audience captivated.
Alongside the festival, 10 renowned exponents and scholars of classical dance from different corners of the country enriched the seminar with their insightful deliberations on the tradition, diversity, and pedagogy of Indian dance during the seminar.
On this occasion, all participants were felicitated with certificates and mementoes. Under the able leadership and guidance of Seminar Convenor Dr. Manoj Behera, festival director Guru Ashok Mallik, and coordinator Mrs. Pushpa Kumari, the event was successfully executed.
Guru Ashok Kumar Mallik, who established Sanskriti in 2017 with an aim to promote and preserve Ihndia’s rich cultural heritage, began his Odissi dance training initially under Guru Prasant Kumar Nayak and later did his master’s from Sangeet Mahavidyalay. He also honed his skills under the watchful eyes of Guru Dr Manoj Kumar Behera.
Today, his institution not only trains students in Odissi and Kathak but also provides them a platform to showcase their talents.
