Bhubaneswar: As the name suggests, the sixth edition of ‘Saptaranga’, a festival of Odissi dance, unfolded like a vibrant bouquet of colours and forms at Rabindra Mandap in Bhubaneswar on Thursday.
Organised by Mrudugunjan, an Odissi dance institution established by accomplished Odissi dancer Rajashree Mohapatra in 2016, the festival has, over the years, carved out a distinct identity for itself in the cultural landscape.
This year’s edition was spread over three sessions-morning, afternoon and evening-each brimming with artistic fervor.
While the morning session was inaugurated by Guru Chitrasen Swain and Guru Rudraprasad Swain, Guru Nimakanta Routray graced the afternoon session as the esteemed guest. In both sessions, the host institution’s over hundred students performed solo, duet and group Odissi dance recitals and group folk dances, leaving the audience captivated.
As dusk fell, the auditorium came to life for the festival’s evening session with host Biswajeet Baliarsingh setting the tone for an engaging cultural extravaganza.
CSNA awardee and Odissi dance guru Smt Snehaprava Samantaray, CSNA awardee and eminent Mardala player Guru Dhaneswar Swain, secretary of Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi Chandra Sekhar Hota, Odissi dance guru Niranjan Rout and Odissi vocalist, principal of Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalay Guru Dr Bijay Kumar Jena and Smt Sobha Parida inaugurated the evening by lighting the auspicious lamp. The institution’s president Dr Namitta Kumari Sarangi and secretary Rajashree Mohapatra were also present on the dais.
The highlight of the evening was the presentation of ‘Saptaranga Samman’. This year’s recipients were eminent theatre personality Pradeep Kumar Biswal, Mardala player Guru Sachidananda Das, vocalist Guru Sukant Kumar Kundu, Chhau dancer Guru Sadashiv Pradhan and Odissi danseuse Guru Vani Madhav. They were felicitated for their lifetime contribution to the art world.
The cultural evening commenced with a solo Odissi dance performance by Vani Madhav, a distinguished senior Odissi dance exponent of the Guru Debaprasad Das parampara with over 40 years of experience in dance and over 25 years of experience in teaching the art form.
The founder of Nritya Dhara, a Gurugram-based cultural organization working for the propagation of Indian art and culture since 2011, Vani presented an abhinaya ‘Ritu Nayika’. She commenced her recital with ‘Grishma Ritu’ (Summer Season), followed by ‘Varsha Ritu’ (Rainy Season), vividly portraying the moods of summer and monsoon. Her expressive storytelling and graceful movements painted a picture that words could scarcely capture, holding the audience in rapt attention.
The item’s script was written by Kedar Mishra, music composed by Guru Ramahari Das, rhythm by Guru Dhaneswar Swain and dance choreography by Vani Madhav herself.
The second item of the evening was a duet recital by Monalisha Dash and Sashmita Behera, two senior members of Bhubaneswar-based Jagruti Cultural Academy’s repertoire. They presented ‘Jagat Janani Durga’, based on Raga Ragamalika and Tala Talamalika, choreographed by Guru Trilochan Sahoo and Guru Dushmant Kumar Swain.
They captivated the audience with their remarkable facial expressions, body movements and coordination.
The following item was a group dance recital by the senior dancers of ‘Mrudugunjan’. Twelve well-trained dancers presented ‘Rudra Tandav’, scripted by Prof. Guru Nabakishore Mishra, choreographed by Guru Niranjan Rout, music composed by Guru Ramahari Das and rhythm arranged by Guru Dhaneswar Swain.Depicting Lord Shiva’s cosmic dance, the piece stood out for its precision, synchronization, and commanding stage presence—a true visual spectacle.
The dancers were Soudamini, Smitanjali Pothal, Tamanna Das, Saksi Suhasini, Manushree Behera, Rimsa Mohanty, Sneha Sarmistha Biswal, Suhani Subhashree Behera, Snehashree Pradhan, Sampriti Praharaj, Deblin Sahoo and Yadvi Mishra.
The art connoisseurs were next treated to another riveting group performance. This time the students of Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalay presented an abhinaya ‘Shakti’, choreographed by Guru Lingaraj Pradhan and Guru Pankaj Kumar Pradhan, music composed by Guru Dr. Bijaya Kumar Jena and rhythm composed by Guru Bijaya Kumar Barik.
The dancers who left the audience mesmerized with their neat presentation were Basistha Kumar Jena, Dipti Prakash Champati, Satya Prakash Mallik,Tanuj Kumar Panda, Sanjana Gouda, Sampurna Indu Pani, Aeioush Gunaprabha and Aradhana Dash.
The evening wrapped up on a high note with vibrant tribal and Sambalpuri folk dances by the dancers of Mrudugunjan, ensuring the festival ended with a bang rather than a whimper.
Rajashree Mohapatra’s journey, from a five-year-old taking her first steps in dance to an accomplished artiste and organiser, is a story of passion and perseverance.
Trained initially under Guru Ranjan Kumar Sharma and later mentored by renowned dancer Guru Sujata Mohapatra, she further honed her craft under Guru Niranjan Rout. An alumna of Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya and Utkal University of Culture, she has trained under several eminent gurus including Guru Nabakishore Mishra, Dr Snehaprava Samantray, Dr Manoranjan Pradhan and Guru Lingaraj Pradhan. She has earned national recognition through scholarships, performances, and accolades such as Sasneha Samman, Rajiv Samman, and Sabuja Samman.
With each passing year, Saptaranga continues to raise the bar, proving that dedication to art truly paints the brightest canvas.
