Bhubaneswar: Soumyanjali Nrutyakala, one of Bhubaneswar’s premier Odissi dance institutions, hosted the second edition of its annual dance and music extravaganza — Soumyanjali Samman 2025 — on Tuesday evening at Bhanja Kala Mandap.
The event was a resplendent blend of classical finesse and cultural reverence, drawing art aficionados and dignitaries alike.
The evening commenced with the traditional lighting of the ceremonial lamp, graced by distinguished guests including Bhubaneswar Central MLA Ananta Narayan Jena, former Vice Chairman of Odisha Agro Industries Corporation Limited and BJB Autonomous College Course Director Dr. Santosh Kumar Bej, and noted social activist Dillip Jena.
Following the formal inauguration, the felicitation ceremony took center stage.
Esteemed personalities who have made indelible contributions to the Odissi arts were honored with the Soumyanjali Samman. Among the awardees were Padma Shri awardee Guru Durga Charan Ranbir, legendary Mardala exponent Guru Dhaneswar Swain, and celebrated Odissi vocalist Guru Nimakanta Routray.
The cultural segment of the evening unfolded with a spellbinding solo performance by Rajashri Praharaj, an acclaimed Odissi dancer and disciple of Guru Ratikant Mohapatra. Her rendition of ‘Durga’, set to Raga Malika and Tala Ektali and Jati — originally choreographed by the late Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra and musically composed by Debasish Sarkar — held the audience in rapt attention with its grace and technical virtuosity.
Next in line was a charming group presentation of ‘Saraswati Vandana’ by the junior students of the host institution. The young performers — Shreanshi Pati, Sonali Behera, Shubhechha Rathg, Oditi Das, Sidiksha Mahanta, Ayanshi Nayak, Navika Mishra, Barenya Gourtami Baral, and Vedasmriti Das — showcased remarkable synchronization and spatial awareness, a clear reflection of the meticulous training imparted by Guru Dr. Manashi Mishra, the founder of Soumyanjali Nrutyakala.
The program continued with a duet titled ‘Barsha’ by Bibhu Prasad Behera and Akanksha Dash from the Odissi dance school Nupur, run by Guru Niranjan Rout. Their elegant execution and emotive storytelling made for a visual delight.
Raising the artistic bar even higher was a group perframnce by the senior students of Soumyanjali Nrutyakala. They presented ‘Guru Vandana’. Dancers Akanksha Mohanty, Jayashree Jena, Soumyashree Mishra, Gunjan Tripathy, Sikha Saral, and Biswajita Maharana dazzled the audience with their mastery over rhythm and expression.
The final performance of the evening, ‘Niladreenath’, was presented by students of Nrutyalaya, the Odissi institute established by Guru Sanatan Nayak. Choreographed by Guru Nayak and penned by poet Mangala Prasad Pradhan, the piece beautifully illustrated sacred rituals of the Jagannath Temple such as Pahandi and the Mahari dance.
Dancers Jasaswini Swain, Jharanarani Subudhi, Supriya Pani, Sita Murmur, Adyasha Anandita, Baishnabi Priyadarshini, and Binodini Sahoo brought the curtains down with an evocative and vibrant performance.
Established in 2019 by Dr. Manashi Mishra, Soumyanjali Nrutyakala has, in a short span, carved a niche for itself as a center of excellence in Odissi dance, nurturing talent with discipline, devotion, and a deep respect for tradition.
The anchor of the evening was Dr Mrutyunjay Rath.
