Puri: Three-day-long ‘Gurukula Utsav-2020’ organised by Ramhari Das Odissi Gurukula Trust at Badahata, Biragovindapur, Satyabadi, in Puri district from June 25 to 27, went online this year due to prevailing pandemic situation.
Going online has its points too. Art lovers across the globe who otherwise can’t have the opportunity to witness festivals in flesh enjoy performances sitting in their homes, safely.
The festival was inaugurated by eminent Odissi Mardala player Guru Dhaneswar Swain. Guru Ramhari Das, founder of Ramhari Das Odissi Gurukula Trust gave company to him.
After the customary auspicious lighting the lamp ceremony and a message from president, Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi, Padma Shri awardee Guru Aruna Mohanty, who was the guest of the evening, Guru Dr Bijay Kumar Jena, a disciple of Guru Ramhari Das, kickstarted the evening with his sonorous voice, creating a pleasing musical ambience. He presented Raga Bihaga, based on Tala Jati, followed by an Ashtapadi ‘Pashyati Dishi Dishi’. He was ably supported by Guru Bijay Kumar Barik on Mardala, Guru Sukant Kumar Kundu on Harmonium and Shrinivas Satpathy on flute.
The concluding item of the evening was a solo Odissi dance recital by Meera Das,who is a disciple of doyen late Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra and runs ‘Gunjan’, a dance institution in Cuttack. She presented ‘Bibhusana Puspe’, choreographed by Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra.
With the auspicious lighting the lamp ceremony and message from vice-president, Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi, Manmath Satpathy, who was the guest of the second evening, the cultural evening featuring two power-packed performances- an Odissi dance recital by Padma Shri awardee Ranjana Gauhar and a solo Hindustani flute recital by Jawahar Mishra.
A disciple of Guru Mayadhar Raut, Ranjana presented ‘Mangalacharan’, followed by an abhinay ‘Bitilata Jamini’. Her presentation ticked all boxes.
Next, Jawahar, a disciple of Guru Mahini Mohan Pattanayak and Ronu Majumder, cast a wonderful spell on the audience with his flute recital, transporting them to a different world altogether. Subhranshu Sekhar lent him a fine support on tabla.
Similarly, the third evening was started with the auspicious lighting the lamp ceremony and a message from secretary, Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi, Prabodh Rath, who was the guest of the evening.
The first presentation of the concluding evening a ‘Mardala Jugalbandi’, presented by Guru Dhaneswar Swain and his disciples- Rohit Kumar Pradhan and Sitakanta Jena. Muralidhar Swain and Ramchandra Behera accompanied them on Harmonium and Manjira respectively.
The following item was mesmerising group Odissi dance, presented by the students of ‘Devadasi’, a dance institution founded by Rojalin Mohapatra. Rojalin is a disciple of Padma Shri awardee Guru Gangadhar Pradhan and Padma Shri awardee Guru Aruna Mohanty. The dancers presented an abhinay ‘Lajare Sarigali Aaj’. Synchronisation, space management and lyrical body movements of the dancers made the presentation enjoyable.
By kalasanskruti.
