Bhubaneswar: The concluding evening of three-day Rajarani Music Festival at the Rajarani temple on Sunday unfolded as a mesmerising celebration of rhythm and melody.
The programme featured a scintillating Odissi instrumental presentation-Mardala and Tabla jugalbandi-by Guru Biswaranjan Nanda and his ensemble, followed by an evocative Hindustani vocal recital by Pandit Ulhas Kashalkar.
The first segment of the evening was devoted to internationally acclaimed Tabla player Guru Biswaranjan Nanda, who along with his group, seamlessly wove together the rhythmic magic. The recital opened with Sabda Soor based on Lord Jagannath, ‘Eka Hasta Badya’, ‘Chausathi Chhanda Badya’, ‘Chhanda Prakaran’ and followed by ‘Aditala’ with sixteen beats in which they showcased ‘Jamana’, ‘Chhanda’, ‘Prakarana’, ‘Ragada’, ‘Khandi’, ‘Gadi’, ‘Arasha’ and ‘Bhauniri Arasha’, drawing repeated applause from the discerning audiences.
They were assisted by Guru Bijay Kumar Das on Tabla, Guru Dudhanath Swain on Mardala, Guru Arup Das on Mardala, Guru Prasanta Kumar Parhi on Violin and Guru Srinibas Satapathy on Flute.
The second half of the evening featured renowned Hindustani Vocalist Pandit Ulhas Kashalkar, who enthralled listeners with a meditative ‘Raag Kamod’ followed by ‘Raag Bahar’. He concluded his recital with some remarkable Bhajans.
His presentation was marked with step-by-step elaboration in Bilambita and Drutalaya giving scope for vocal embellishments, simpler and softer movement from one note to other. While executing intricate tans and sargams, their wide ranging mellifluous voice, combined with masterly command over the technique, translated their highest flight of imagination into sublime music. He was accompanied by Pandit Suresh Talwalkar on the Tabla and Shri Ameya Bichu on the Harmonium.
The dignitaries who graced the concluding evening were Prof. Ramhari Das, Eminent Odissi Vocalist; Dr. Bijay Ketan Upadhyay Secretary, Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department; Guru Gopal Chandra Panda, Eminent Odissi Vocalist; Shri Niranjan Panda from Sanskar Bharati, Guru Sachidananda Das, Eminent Mardala Player; Dr. Chandrasekhar Hota, Secretary, Odisha Sangita Natak Akademi. The programme anchored by Dr. Sadhana Srivastav and Dr. Sangita Gosain.
