Bhubaneswar: The art lovers thronged at Buddha Mandir here to witness ‘Being Aware-Part III & Sangeet Samaroh-2025’ had a unique experience of enlightenment and entertainment.
Organised by Debaprasad Nrutya Pratisthan, the festival was held in the fond memory of Guru Late Debaprasad Das, the legendary icon of Odissi dance, aiming to preserve and promote his vision, choreographic style, and scholarly contributions to Odissi through research, training, and performance.
The festival commenced with the auspicious lighting the lamp ceremony, graced by eminent guests-noted vocalist and Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee Pandit Dr Debendra Narayan Satapathy as the chief guest, along with noted Odissi dancer and Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee Guru Minakshi Behera and celebrated musician Kalabhushana Dr Sunil Kumar Pattanaik.
In a moving felicitation ceremony, noted Odissi Veena player and Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee Guru Ramarao Patra was honoured with ‘Shiva Shakti Guru Debaprasad Award 2025’ for his lifetime contribution to the art world. Similarly, Guru Dr Manoj Kumar Behera was felicitated with ‘Odissi Nrutya Pragyan Samman’ for his dedicated service to the dance form.
The evening also witnessed Odissi dancers Smt Swapnarani Sinha and Sushree Mohanty and vocalist Prateek Pattnaik being conferred with ‘Juva Odissi Nrutya Guru Samman’, ‘Odissi Nrutya Praveena Samman’ and ‘Juba Odissi Sangeet Ratna Samman’ respectively.
The festival opened with a though-provoking seminar on “Being Aware – Part 3”, followed by the ‘Word of Blessings of Shiva Nirakar’ by Guru Gayatri Chand & Guru Sushree Anita Singhdeo along with a meditation session. Later, founder-cum-executive trustee of Debaprasad Nrutya Pratisthan, Guru Chand delivered her insightful keynote address.
As the evening unfolded, the art lovers were transported into a world of rhythm and devotion through a bouquet of mesmerizing performances. The soulful rendition of young vocalist Prateek Pattnaik set the tone for the evening. Subsequently, scintillating Odissi dance performances by Samikshya Pani, Suhana Mishra, Swarna Prava Panda, Swarnanki Das and Rabishankar Majhi made the evening enjoyable, with each performance earning resounding applause.
Besides paying homage to Guru Debaprasad Das’s timeless legacy, the festival also rekindled the spirit of classical art that continues to thrive in Odisha’s cultural heartland.
The anchor of the evening was Sushree Mohanty, who is an advocate by profession and an Odissi dancer by passion.
