New Delhi: Jayantika-Mayadhar Raut School of Odissi Dance held its 51st Annual Day ‘Deeksha 2025’ at India International Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi on Sunday, celebrating a legacy steeped in grace, discipline, and devotion.
The festival was graced by the principal of Swarnimm Sangeet Mahavidyalaya Smt Srabani Bahuguna as the chief guest and noted art consultant, curator and designer Smt Seema Subbanna as the guest of honour who inaugurated the festival and paid a heartfelt tribute to the enduring artistic legacy of Padma Shri Guru Mayadhar Raut.
This year’s festival carried a special poignancy, as it was the first Annual Day held since the passing of the legendary guru in February this year. Though physically absent, Guru Raut’s presence was deeply felt through every movement, gesture, and rhythm on stage.
The festival commenced with an invocation to Lord Jagannath ‘Jagannath Swami Nayan Patha Gami’, performed by the students of Mayadhar Raut School of Odissi Dance. Trained by Guru Raut’s daughter Guru Madhumita Raut, the artistes set the motion for the evening with a poised and immersive presentation, leaving the art lovers enchanted.
The following item was ‘Dhyan Shlokan’ presented by the youngest students of the institution leading into ‘Bhumi Pranam’, by the first year students, a sacred ritual performed at the beginning and end of every class and performance. It is to seek permission and blessings from Mother Earth before dancing on her surface.The programme continued with ‘Mangalacharan’, in praise of Lord Ganesh, the remover of obstacles, followed by ‘Jagaran Nritya’ and ‘Trikhandi Pranam’ where the dancers invoked the blessings of God, the Guru and the audience.
The second-year students then presented ‘Megh Mallhar’, a short pure dance piece set to raga Megh Mallhar, capturing the lyrical beauty fo the monsoon. Then the energy shifted seamlessly to pure dance item ‘Batu’, in honour of Lord Shiva who is also known as Batuk Bhairav. The dancers’ sculptural poses and rhythmic precision left the connoisseurs captivated.
The artistes then presented ‘Pallavi’ based on raga Basant. Their neat presentation made one felt that the sculptures on the walls of temples in Odisha came alive on the stage. This was followed by ‘Raag Bairag’, choreographed by Madhumita Raut and music composed by Hari Narayan Dash. While the piece is a true reflection of the Guru Mayadhar Raut Odissi style, the piece showcased lyrical flow, elegance, and emotional depth, rendered with finesse by the performers.
The penultimate item was ‘Nachanti Krishna Ki Madhure’, a Gotipua abhinaya, choreographed by Guru Mayadhar Raut, drew warn appreciation. Based on a 15th century poem by an Oriya king-Athagarh Raja Bhramarabara Birabara Rai, this composition, , the piece beautifully blended nritta and abhinaya, depicting Krishna dancing with Radha among the Gopis under the Kadamba tree on the banks of river Yamuna.The last item was ‘Moksha’, a piece of Shuddha Nritta – pure dance, symbolising spiritual liberation. The word means salvation and remains the final dance piece in an Odissi recital. The dance is performed in fast tempo, accompanied by the recitation of rhythmic syllables. The dancers, through this finale, dedicate themselves to the supreme power.Accompanied by rhythmic syllables, the finale saw the dancers surrender themselves to the supreme power, bringing the recital to a powerful and uplifting close.
Throughout the evening, the artistes’ impeccable space management, synchronisation, and collective energy with suitable accompaniment of Hari Narayan Dash on the vocal, Prashant Mangaraj on the Mardala, Dheeraj Pandey on the Flute and Afzaal Zahoor on the Violin kept the audience riveted till the last performance.
Committed to the promotion and preservation of Odissi, Jayantika, a nonprofit organisation, runs Mayadhar Raut School of Odissi dance. Founded and headed by the legendary Odissi doyen late Padma Shri Guru Mayadhar Raut, hailed as the high priest of Indian classical dance, the institution stands as a testament to his lifelong dedication. Guru Raut’s most significant contribution lies in enriching Odissi abhinaya through Sanchari Bhava and Mudra Viniyoga and in shaping generations of distinguished dancers and gurus.
Following Guru Raut’s demise, the school is presently being run by his senior disciples Dr Sonali Pradhan, Sonam Samal Biswal, Rijuta Pandav, Nitya Pant, Shruti Prasad, Jayanti Sarmah, Vasundhra Chopra, Nupur Gupta and his daughter Madhumita Raut—ensuring that his luminous legacy continues to thrive.
