Bhubaneswar: The 12th edition of Odissi Nrutya Sangeet Samman Utsav 2022-23, organised by Nrutyangana, held at Rabindra Mandap in Bhubaneswar on June 29.
After the customary lighting the lamp ceremony, attended by guests comprising Odissi dance exponents Guru Minakshi Behera, Pranati Mohanty and Prof Dr Itishree Dwivedi; assistant professor, department of orthopaedic, SUM Hospital, Dr Nabin Kumar Sahu; professor, Lab Hemat, IMS & SUM Hospital, Dr Rajesh Kumar Bhol; secretary, Bhubaneswar branch of Institute of Chartered Accounts of India, CA Mahendra Kumar Sahoo; Manager, Passport Seva Kendra, Pratap Chandra Nanda; poet and short story writer Dr Indira Dutta and assistant professor, department of Oncology, SUM Hospital and Odissi dancer Dr Lipsita Samantaray, began the felicitation ceremony.
While Guru Sikata Das, who is the head of the department, Odissi Dance, Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Odissi Research Centre was awarded for her immense contribution to the world of Odissi dance, Minati Singha, who is presently working as an assistant editor with the Times of India, was awarded for her untiring efforts to spread the richness of Odisha’s art and culture.
The cultural evening witnessed some scintillating performances by the disciples of Guru Subash Chandra Swain, the founder of Nrutyangana, and the students of Nrutyadhara, one of the premier dance institutions in Bangalore. The items presented were ‘Sridurga’, ‘Shiva Panchakshara’, ‘Srijagannath’, ‘Ahe Nila Saila’, ‘Sthayee’, ‘Vakratunda Mahakaya’ and some tribal and folk dances.
With an aim to popularise Odissi dance, bring the hidden talents to the fore and provide the youngsters a platform, Guru Subash Chandra Swain established Nrutyangana in 1990 and he has since been working in this direction.
