Bhubaneswar: The second evening of Mukteswar Dance Festival, organised by the Department of Tourism in association with Odisha Sangeet Natak Academy and Odisha Tourism Development Corporation, started off with the customary lighting of auspicious lamp.
As is the tradition, the evening started with ‘Shiva Vandana’ by Guru Swapneswar Chakraborty along with his group invoking the blessing of Lord Shiva “Uma Mahesh Stotram”. Then the dew-filled cultural evening proceeded towards the end with a solo, a duet and a group Odissi recitals.
Solo dance was presented by Guru Ramesh Chandra Jena. He started off his recital with Mangalacharan “Haragourastakam’ followed by an abhinaya ‘Biswarupa’. His excellent body movements, facial expressions left the dance connoisseurs wanting more from Jena. The item was choreographed by Guru Bichitrananda Swain and Guru Aruna Mohanty, music composition by Guru Ramhari Das and Guru Gopal Chandra Panda, rhythem composition by Guru Dhaneswar Swain and Guru Bijay Kunmar Batik and script by Kedar Mishra.
Next came Shatabdi Mallik and Niladri Mohanty who presented Mangalacharan ‘Shiva Rupa Mahadevanka Dhyana’. The following item was Ragheswari Pallavi. They concluded with an abhinaya ‘Baidanath Panchapadi’. All the items were choreographed by Guru Durga Charan Ranbir.
The group Odissi dance recitals were presented by Dona Ganguly and group from Kolkata. Their first item was ‘Dasabatara’ set to raga Kalayana and tala Jhampa followed by an abhinaya Ardhanariswar. They concluded their presentation with Shankaravarana Pallavi.
The programme was anchored by Dr. En. Srinivas Ghatuari and Sanhati Pani.
The second evening had guests of the likes of Guru Aruna Mohanty, secretary, Orissa Dance Akademy; Guru Ratikanta Mohapatra, director, Srjan; Guru Dhaneswar Swain,eminent Mardala player; Durga Prasad Mohapatra, joint secretary, Tourism Department; Dr. Ratikanta Pattanayak, assistant director, Tourism and Dr. Sangita Gosain, chief executive, GKCM Odissi Rsearch Centre, Bhubaneswar.
Debi Prasad Mishra needed special mention as his light design made the evening all the more enjoyable. Officers/ Staff of Tourism Department, OTDC and Sangita Nataka Academy were coordinating during the festival.
By kalasanskruti
Photo courtesy: Odisha Tourism
