Kataka: The 5th edition of Chandirika Utsav, organised by Odisha’s one of premier cultural institutions Vaageswari Kala Kunja, was held at Kala Vikash Kendra, Kataka, on November 14.
The festival celebrated the enduring spirit of Indian art and culture while recognising and honouring the dedication, achievements and contributions of distinguished personalities from various fields.
The festival began at 4 pm with the inauguration of an art exhibition by renowned artist Shri Pranab Akhanda. Sharing his thoughts on the occasion, he highlighted the importance of art, creativity and nurturing artistic sensibilities among the younger generation.
This was followed by the felicitation of the winners of the painting competition, recognising their artistic creativity and abilities.
The main segment of the festival commenced at 6 pm with the lighting of auspicious lamp by dignitaries including senior Odisha High Court advocate Shri Gautam Mukherji, artist Shri Pranab Akhanda and senior journalist Debu Chatterjee. Eminent Odissi dancer Guru Smt Munmun Chanraborty and her husband Guru Swapneswar Chakraborty, a renowned Sitarist, the founders of Vaageswari Kala Kunja, were also present on the dais.
The spotlight was then shifted to the much-awaited felicitation ceremony.
The prestigious awards presented on the occasion included:
Chandrika Shree Award 2026: Guru Shri Ghanshyam Panda, distinguished vocalist
Amaresh Chakraborty Memorial Award 2026: Guru Shri Dhaneswar Swain, eminent Mardala exponent
Chandrika Lifetime Achievement Award 2026: Shri Frederick Wright
Chandrika Social Worker Award 2026: Smt. Sudhashree Dutta, renowned social worker
Chandrika Youth Award 2026: Dr. Kshitiprakash Mahapatra, distinguished vocalist
The awardees were honoured by the distinguished guests with traditional uttariyas, citations and mementoes in recognition of their remarkable achievements and invaluable contributions to the art world.
The guests and awardees showered their blessings on celebrated Odissi dancer Guru Munmun Chakraborty and her husband and renowned Sitar exponent Swapneswar Chakraborty for their unwavering dedication towards nurturing next generation artistes. They also extended their best wishes for the institution’s continued growth and the festival’s future success.
The highlight of the festival was a solo Hindustani vocal recital by Kaninika Chakraborty, daughter of Munmun Chakraborty and Swapenswar Chakraborty. She is a disciple of Guru A Maheswar Rao and Guru Ajay Chakraborty.
She presented Raga Bihag, a Raga known for its romantic mood. The performance showcased her mastery of techniques and intricate improvisations, leaving the audience captivated. Guru A Niranjan Rao, Jogendra Nath Swain and Tanushree Mishra lent her a good support on the Harmonium, the Tabla and the Tanpura respectively.
Another major attraction of the festival was an abhinaya ‘Hari Riha Mugdha’, an Ashtapadi from the Gita Govinda by Guru Smt Munmun Chakraborty and her senior disciples. Choreographed by Padma Vibhushan Guru Kelu Charan Mohapatra, the presentation depicted Krishna’s playful dalliance with gopis.
Guru Smt Chakraborty was excellent in Krishna’s character while other dancers also delivered their best. The presentation received a huge round of applause from the appreciative audience.
A solo Odissi recital by Sweta Rout, a disciple of Guru Smt Munmun Chakraborty, added a vibrant touch to the evening. She presented ‘Jaya Bhagabati’, an abhinaya that beautifully explored different aspects of Goddess Durga.
Her lyrical body movements and expressions brought the divine feminine to life, making the presentation a visual delight.
Adding a variety to the evening’s cultural offerings, Shri Sourav Roy, a young Kathak artiste from Kolkata took the stage next. A disciple of Guru Malabika Mitra, Sourav commenced his recital with ‘Viswanathastakam’, a Shiva Vandana, followed by a pure dance ‘Chautaal’, set to a 12-beat rhythmic cycle. His second presentation was ‘Dakshayajna’, one of the finest compositions of Pt Lachhu Maharaj, followed by ‘Tarana’, which brought his recital to a close.
His flawless spins, impeccable footwork and expressive movements left everyone in the audience captivated. Sourav is presently running his own institution ‘Damarudhwani’ in Kolkata.
The evening also featured a group Mardala recital ‘Tribidha Mardala Badan’. Directed by Guru Soumya Ranjan Nayak, the recital was presented by three young Mardala players-Arup Kumar Nanda, Sudarshan sahu and Heramba Narayan Pradhan.
They performed ‘Aditala’, showcasing different technicalities like ‘gadi’ ‘arasa’, ‘bhaunri arasa’, ‘jamana’ etc. The trio was aptly supported by Debasis Rout on the Harmonium. Guru Nayak mentioned that he had dedicated the performance to his Guru Banamali Maharana.
Art lovers were also treated to a bouquet of scintillating group Odissi performances including ‘Mangalacharan’, ‘Batu’, ‘Madhurashtakam’, ‘Pallavi’, ‘Shri Ramastuti’, ‘Nava Durga’ and ‘Shiva Panchakshara’, presented by the students of Vaageswari Kala Kunja.
Under the able guidance and direction of the institution’s Guru and Director, Smt. Munmun Chakraborty, the young performers showcased their artistic talent and mesmerised the audience.
In the concluding segment, all students of Vaageswari Kala Kunj were presented with awards in recognition of their dedication and progress in their respective artistic pursuits. The initiative sought to boost their confidence, encourage continued learning and inspire them to strive for greater excellence in the years ahead.
The festival was successfully organised with the wholehearted support, guidance and valuable contribution of Guru Shri Swapneswar Chakraborty. The evening culminated in a vote of thanks delivered by Vaageswari Kala Kunja’s president Shri Kahnugopal Chakraborty, who expressed his sincere gratitude to everyone associated with the event.
The programme was anchored by Bijaya Malla and Kaninika Chakraborty.
