Bhubaneswar: The National Dance & Music Festival-2026, organised by Tridhara under the national presence of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, was held with great grandeur on July 16 at Rabindra Mandap, Bhubaneswar as part of the 40th Sradhanjali Samaroh–2026, a tribute to legendary Odissi maestro Guru Dr Debaprasad Das on his 40th death anniversary.
The day commenced at 9.00 a.m. with the garlanding of the statue of legendary Guru Dr. Debaprasad Das on the premises of Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya. Eminent gurus, distinguished guests, disciples, artistes and admirers paid floral tributes and offered Pushpanjali to the legendary maestro, remembering his unparalleled contribution to the Odissi dance world.
The morning session, beginning at 10.00 a.m., witnessed the participation of more than 30 leading dance institutions from Odisha and other parts of the country. Renowned institutions from Bhubaneswar, Brahmapur, Cuttack, Banki, Ranpur, Bolangir, Kolkata, Raipur and other cities presented vibrant Odissi dance performances, reflecting the richness and continuity of the legendary guru’s artistic legacy.
The festival also featured captivating presentations of Odisha’s traditional folk art forms, including Ghanta Mrudanga, Bagha Nata, Katha Pada Nata, and Ghumura, performed by distinguished cultural organisations from Ganjam and Kalahandi, adding a colourful dimension to the celebration of Odisha’s intangible cultural heritage.
The afternoon session, commencing at 2.00 p.m., continued with performances by eminent dance institutions and guest artistes. A special attraction was the Kathak recital by Prof. Dr. Bijaya Sharma of Bhopal, which beautifully highlighted the spirit of India’s classical dance traditions.
The presence of Ms. Bagmishree Das, granddaughter of Guru Dr. Debaprasad Das, added emotional significance to the memorial celebrations.
The festival reached its grand culmination in the evening with the National Dance & Music Festival-2026, beginning at 6.00 p.m.
The audience witnessed a series of outstanding performances by some of India’s most celebrated musicians.
The evening opened with a mesmerizing Solo Tabla Recital by internationally acclaimed tabla maestro Pandit Anindo Chatterjee, whose rhythmic brilliance received a standing ovation from the packed auditorium.
This was followed by an enthralling duet violin recital by renowned violin virtuoso Pandit Mysore Manjunath and young violinist Ms. Malavi Manjunath, accompanied on tabla by Pandit Prosenjit Poddar. Their soulful and technically brilliant performance captivated the audience and highlighted the timeless beauty of Indian classical music.
The programme concluded with the spectacular Odissi dance production “Jaya Rama”, presented by the artistes of Tridhara. The production, depicting episodes from the life and ideals of Lord Rama through the expressive vocabulary of Odissi dance, was highly appreciated for its choreography, musical composition, costume design and artistic excellence.
The esteemed guests of the evening were Guru Chapala Mishra, Guru Rashmi Mishra and Guru Minakshi Behera, all disciples of Guru Debaprasad Das, Suvendu Das, Samar Kumar Mandal, Working President, Tridhara, Simanchala Panda, and Director, Tridhara, Guru Dr. Gajendra Panda. The programme was anchored by Punyadarshan Sahoo and coordinated by Tridhara Assistant Director Prabhutosh Panda.
Photo courtesy: Tridhara
