Bhubaneswar: The timeless elegance of Odissi dance unfolded at Rabindra Mandap here as Sadhana Cultural Academy, founded by Guru Sudhakar Sahoo, the oldest living Odissi guru, hosted the Guru Sudhakar Sahoo Award Festival 2026 on Friday.
The day-long cultural extravaganza proved to be a vibrant tapestry of classical artistry, treating connoisseurs and enthusiasts alike to an unforgettable feast of dance, music and devotion.
The festival was conducted in three sessions-morning, afternoon, and evening with the participation of nearly 100 artistes coming from different parts of the state. While each segment had its own distinctive charm, the evening session emerged as the crowning glory of the festival, featuring the prestigious award ceremony alongside a series of mesmerising performances by acclaimed artistes.
Following the afternoon session, compere Dr Mrutyunjay Rath took to the stage to usher in the eagerly awaited evening programme.
The inaugural ceremony witnessed the presence of dignitaries like Special Secretary, Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department, Government of Odisha, Debaprasad Dash, Secretary Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi Dr Chandrasekhar Hota and eminent educationist and social activist Dr Bandita Dash who lit the auspicious lamp to mark the beginning of the celebrations. Sadhana Cultural Academy’s secretary Guru Sanghamitra Muduli was also present on the stage.
The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the prestigious Guru Sudhakar Sahu Award 2026. This year, the award was conferred on Padma Shri Guru Kumkum Mohanty for her outstanding contribution to Odissi dance.
The previous recipients of the honour include Padma Shri Guru Datuk Ramli Ibrahim of Malaysia and Padma Shri Guru Durga Charan Ranbir.
In their addresses, the guests heaped praise on Guru Sanghamitra Muduli for her unwavering commitment to organising the festival in honour of her guru, Guru Sudhakar Sahoo.
They lauded her efforts in preserving and promoting the rich legacy of Odissi while wishing the academy continued success in the years ahead.
The cultural segment opened on a high note with a captivating solo Odissi dance recital by SNA Awardee Guru Smt Sangeeta Dash, one of the foremost exponents of the legendary Guru Debaprasad Das style. Presently settled in Puduchery and running Meera Dance Academy and Research Centre, Guru Smt Dash presented ‘Shyama Sama Kamaniya Nahin Aau’, penned by Kabisurya Baladeba Rath, choreographed by the artiste herself, music composed by Guru Ramahari Dash and rhythm by Guru Dhaneswar Swain.
With perfectly sculpted moves and striking expressions, she beautifully explored the shringara rasa, vividly portraying the irresistible charm and grace of Lord Krishna, leaving the art lovers spellbound and wanting for more.
Keeping the ball rolling, Dibyashree Panda and Arpita Pani were the next performers.
They presented ‘Bal Gopal Ashtakam’, choreographed by Guru Pitambar Biswal. Their graceful duet vividly captured the playful innocence and mischievous exploits of child Krishna, earning wide applause from the audience.
The devotional fervour continued with a powerful performance ‘Maa Samlei’ by Rinku Sahoo, who presented ‘Maa Samlei’, set to Raga Ramamalika and Tala Talamalika.
Lyrics by Padma Shri Mitrabhanu Gountia, choreographed by the artiste himself, music by Agnimitra Behera and rhythm by Guru Dhaneswar Swain and Guru Ajay Kumar Choudhury, the piece celebrated the divine Mother as the supreme embodiment of love, courage and protection, worshiped in different forms in different regions. His energetic performance left the audience soaked in an atmosphere of profound devotion.
The spotlight was then shifted to ‘Neeladri Natha’, a group presentation by seven dancers of Nrutyalaya, an Odissi institution founded by Guru Sanatan Nayak.
Choreographed by Guru Sanatan Nayak, music composed by Guru K Ramarao Patra and Guru Binod Kumar Panda and rhythm by Guru Dhaneswar Swain, the production explored various facets of Lord Jagannath.
The impeccable synchronisation, graceful formations and polished space management of Jasashwini Swain, Jharanarani Barik, Sita Murmu, Binodini Sahu, Supriya Pani, Prakruti Patnaik and Adyasha Anindita left the audience captivated.
The penultimate item of the evening was another group performance by the students of Nrutyangana. They presented ‘Panchali’, choreographed by Guru Subash Chandra Swain, music composed by Guru Bikash Shukla and rhythm by Guru Rama Chandra Behera. The production poignantly portrayed the trials and tribulations of Draupadi.
The imaginative depiction of a moving chariot carrying Krishna and Arjuna onto the battlefield, along with the dramatic portrayal of Krishna protecting Draupadi by providing her with endless sarees in the royal court won sustained applause. The performers included Alokrani, Nibedita, Diptish, Sujit, Debasriya, Subhagata, Smrutishree, Rajashree and Sangeeta.
The curtains came down on a memorable evening with another group presentation by the artistes of Nupur, an Odissi dance institution.
The item was ‘Dasha Mahavidya’, choreographed by Guru Niranjan Rout, music composed by Guru Ramahari Das and rhythm by Guru Dhaneswar Swain. the production portrayed three of the ten Mahavidyas—Goddess Kali, Goddess Tara and Goddess Sodashi. Their body movements, expressions and seamless synchronization made it an enjoyable one.
The dancers included Sneha Manjari Hota, Biswabhushan Champatiray, Jagatjit Das, Bibhu Prasad Behera, Jasoda Barik, Unkili Malleswari, Subhashree Das, Dipti Prakash Champati and Sanjana Gouda.
Founded by Guru Sudhakar Sahu, the oldest living Odissi guru, the academy has, over the years, carved a niche for itself by providing a platform for budding and upcoming Odissi dancers to showcase their talent and share the stage space with established artistes.
Over the years, Sadhana Cultural Academy has gone from strength to strength and carved a niche for itself by nurturing young Odissi talent and providing budding dancers with a platform to share the stage with celebrated maestros.
The 2026 edition of the Guru Sudhakar Sahoo Award Festival once again underscored the academy’s steadfast commitment to preserving and promoting Odisha’s rich classical dance heritage, ensuring that the flame of Odissi continues to burn bright for generations to come.
