Bhubaneswar: The four-day Odissi Sangeet Mahotsav, organised by Sangeet Sudhakar Balakrushna Das Foundation, was inaugurated at Rabindra Mandap in Bhubaneswar on Thursday.
The inaugural evening had esteemed guests like eminent linguist Padma Shri recipient Dr Devi Prasanna Pattanayak, Additional Chief Secretary to Government of Odisha, Steel and Mines Department Surendra Kumar Nayak and president of Nikhila Odisha Misthanna Bhandara Mahasangh Bimbadhar Behera who inaugurated the festival by lighting the auspicious lamp.
The foundation’s president Manoranjan Panigrahi, vice president Kshirod Pattanayak, secretary Guru Ramahari Das, Guru Keshab Rout, Guru Nimakanta Routray, Dr Sachikant Nayak and treasurer Raghunath Das also shared the dais. The guests recalled the contribution of Sangeet Sudhakar Balakrushna Das to the music world.
The evening started with the artistes of Puratani Kalamandap, Puri, presenting Jaga Akhada. The artistes were Guru Satyapriya Mohapatra, Guru Surendra Nayak, Guru Ashok Kumar Das, Guru Sridhar Mohapatra and Sriman Abhilash Dash who were ably supported by Guru Sachidananda Das on the Mardala and Soumyakanta Mallick on the Manjira.They presented ‘Kie Pakaila Mote…’, ‘Khanjana Nayani Chahan…’ and ‘Naja Jamunare Naja…’. Their soulful renditions gave a befitting start to the evening.
The next performer was young and talented Yuva Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar awardee Rupak Parida, a disciple of Guru Ramahari Das and Guru Bijay Kumar Jena. He sang ‘Kalindi Kulaku Mora Sankhali Na Jare…’, based on Raga Kalyan and Tala Jati, originally written by Kabisurya Baladev Rath. With his in-depth knowledge, he instantly stroke a chord with the listeners.
The following performer was Bijayalaxmi Routray, daughter and disciple of Guru Nimakanta Routray, who mesmerized the audience with ‘Satha Nagara Tumbha Priti Janagala…’, based on Raga Charukeshi. Debashis Routray and Soumyakanta Mallick lent her a good support on the Harmonium and the Mardala respectively.
The fourth singer of the evening was Matruprasad Das, who sang ‘Nikunje Jana Braja Yuvaraj Kanha’, based on Raga Bajrakanti and Tala Ektali, originally written by Lokanath Pattanayak. His accompanists were Sachidanand Das on the Mardala and Muralidhar Swain on the Harmonium.
Next, Pradeep Kumar Das came onto the stage to present ‘Kinchite Kara Sudaya…’, based on Raga Pattamanjari and Tala Ektali, written by Tunga Dakshinaray. He concluded his recital with a Natyangi, written by Kabi Gopalkrushna Pattanayak, set to Raga Kirabani and Tala Khemata.
The evening came to an end with Guru Nimakanta Routray presenting four songs like ‘Ki Bhangi Kala Lo Mitani…’, an Odissi song, ‘Nahin Ke Karidela…’ again and Odissi song, ‘Lalita Labangalata Pari Shilana…’, from Jayadev’s Gita Govinda, ‘Kunja Bane Kalanidhi Kalanidhi…’, a Chhanda. The accompanists who lent him a good support were Muralidhar Swain on the Harmonium and Satikanta Jena on the Mardala.
The classical music lovers and common audience enjoyed the evening till the last presentation.
The anchor of the evening was Dr Mrutyunjay Rath.
