Bhubaneswar: Chinmayee Classics, one of the premier Odissi dance and music institutions in the state, celebrated Raja Utsav 2025 at Lord Vishnu Temple, Sahid Nagar, Bhubaneswar, on Saturday, drawing a large number of crowd that stayed glued to their seats till last item.
The evening had guests like Kulamani Parida, advisor of Sahid Nagar Sanskrutika Samiti, Dr Narayan Mohapatra, Social Worker and secretary of Jaya Maa Bhabani Charitable Trust and advocate Sovedita Ray who inaugurated the programme by lighting the auspicious lamp.
Next, the guests felicitated eminent Mahari dancer Smt Gayatri Khuntia with Raja Prativa Samman for her contributions to preserving and promoting the ancient dance tradition.
The cultural evening commenced with the female members of Sahid Nagar Sanskrutika Samiti’s Yoga Group presenting ‘Bhavani Ashtakam’ in chorus, followed by a group Odissi dance recital ‘Mani Bimane Govinda’ by the students of Chinmayee Classics.
The dancers were Dibyansha Mishra, Trisha Mohapatra, Debasmita Das, Madhusmita Pradhan, Dhanvi Pattanayak, Banyarani Jena, Swarnamayee Sahu, Amrita Krishna Sahu, S Sanvi and Mayera Pradhan.
The following item was a solo Mahari dance recital by eminent Mahari dancer Smt Gayatri Khuntia. She presented ‘Bansi Teji Hela…’, written by Mukta Mahari, a Devadasi, a piece rich in devotion. It is learnt that Guru Pankaj Charan Das had choreographed it in very presence of Sashimani Devadasi and Parasmani Devadasi. Here, Mukta Maharai remembers Lord Krishn’s that tribhanga posture with playing a flute and asks Him to appear in that posture instead of His ‘chaturbhuj roop’. It was a pleasant to watch Smt Khuntia dance with complete involvement.
Next, the dancers of the host institution presented a rhythmic group dance ‘Asichhi Pahili Raja’, changing the mood of the evening. Then, the evening veered into Bollywood terrain with ‘Mere Dholna’ performed by Bhagyashree Sahoo and V. Manyata, followed by high-energy group numbers including ‘Lal Ishq’, ‘Darling Darling’, and ‘Chiring Chiring’, featuring Bhagyashree, Manyata, Sweta Swain, and Siddhi Ray.
What drew a thundering applause were a spirited duet dance ‘Rangabati Mix’ by Babita Mohapatra and Rashmirekha Tripathy, both are the residents of Sahid Nagar area and housewives. They and Meenakshi Swain followed it up with a foot-tapping Sambalpuri number ‘Alatamakhi’.
The evening had classical dance, Bollywood style and folk dance, something for everyone, making it memorable for the audiences.
It is worth mentioning that Guru Smt Prabhati Kar, a disciple of Odissi doyen Padmavibhushan recipient Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, established Chinmayee Classics in the year 1991 with an aim to promote Odissi dance, music, instrumental and art and craft. Her disciples have participated in many state and national level festivals in Odisha, India and abroad.
