Bhubaneswar: To mark the 50-year-long dance journey of Guru Dr Gajendra Panda, from a Sakhi Nata performer to a revered figure in the realm of Odissi dance, from 1974 to 2024, Tridhara, organised Swarna Samaroha – 2024 at Rabindra Mandap, Bhubaneswar on May 22.
The festival was divided into two sessions-inaugural and valedictory.
The dignitaries who graced the inaugural session were Debiprasana Patnaik, Legendary Linguist; Prof. Prasanna Kumar Swain, VC, Utkal University of Culture; Manmath Kumar Satpathy, Vice President, Odisha Sangita Natak Akademi; Guruji Shyam Sundar Agarwal, Om Yoga & Pranayam; Ramahari Jena, Former Secretary, Lalit Kala Kendra; Dr. Suvendu Das, Ex Vice President, HR, PPL; Sradhanjali Mohanty, Workinf President, Jagannath Rath Yatra Committee, Japan; Guru Laxmikanta Palit, Eminent Muisc Composer, Singer & Director, Dr. Sujata Mishra, Eminent Odissi Exponent; Surendra Das, Secretary General, Chinta O Chetana, Dr. Gaurav Ralhan, CEO, Health On Top; Simanchala Panda, Working President, Tridhara and Guru Gajendra Panda, Director, Tridhara.
On the inaugural session, senior as well as junior artistes of Tridhara presented some scintillating performances, giving a befitting start to the evening.
The first item of the evening was ‘Gananayak’ presented by Subhashree, Tanisha, Lisa Rani, Rishita, Tanupriya, Sonali, Divya, Anoushka and Swapnarani. The next item was ‘Mangalacharan – Laxmi Nrusingha Dhyana’ set to Rag-Mangalagujari & Lalita, music composed by Guru Gopal Chandra Panda, Rhythm Composed by Guru Banamali Maharana presented by Ramakant, Priyanka, Akanshya, Subhashree, Pragyanshini, Shreeyanshi, Anuska, Adyasha, Pratyasha, Arundhati, Somyashree and Mukti. Next presentation was an Abinaya ‘Kede Chanda’ presented by Sree Dikhya, Aditya, Aradhya, Suniska, Ankita, Aradhya and Alpa.
The following item was ‘Mahakali Dhyan’ presented by Bijaylaxmi and Suvashri followed by ‘Uthilu Ede Begi’ performed by Akash, Shreyansi, Kavya, Harshali, Shivangi, Shikhyanshi, Shweta and Sanvi. Next presentation was ‘Kalabati Pallavi’ presented by Atasi Mishra followed by ‘Phulendi’ presented by Sandhya, Aruna, Rutumbhara, Krishna Prabhati, Runu, Priyanka and Sanjukta.
Next Dibyashree, Shivani, Ankita, Mokshada, Simran, Sai Durga, Rutuja, Mahima, Saloni and Sraddha came onto the stage to present ‘Rageshri Sthayee’. Then, an Odia Abhinaya ‘Manaudharana’ by Kabisamrat Upendra Bhanja set to Raga-Mishra Aaravi and Tala-Tripata presented by Shreya, Tanisha, Rutuja.
Next item was ‘Nabarasa’ set to Rag- Malika and Tal-Malika presented by Mokshada and Harapriya. The last presentation of inaugural session was ‘Durga Tandav’ by Sarita, Priyansha, G. Nageswari, Dipika and Monalisa.
All the dancers stood up to the reputation of Tridhara, a brain child of late Guru Debaprasad Das. Their stage management, synchronisation, body movements and facial expressions spoke volume of their and their guru’s hardwork.
The dignitaries who graced the valedictory session were Dr. Sitakanta Mohapatra, Eminent Poet, Dilip Routray, Director, OLL & C Department; Guru Dr. Gopal Ch. Panda, Eminent Odissi Music Maestro; Dr. Ramesh Prasad Panigrahi, Researcher and Play Writer; Guru Jyoti Rout, Odissi Dance Exponent and Guru Gajendra Panda, Director, Tridhara.
In this session, Guru Panda felicitated his gurus and sought their blessings. On this occasion, senior disciples of Guru Panda were also felicitated with ‘Swarna Samman 2024’.
The next part of the evening witnessed ‘Guru Vandana’. The disciples of Guru Panda made him and his better half Pranay Kumari Panda, who is popular among the students as Reena Panda, seated in chairs. They then applied sandal paste on their forehead, did aarti, showered flower petals on them and sought their blessings.
Worth mentioning, the art lovers gave Guru Panda a standing ovation.
In the concluding segment, the senior dancers of Tridhara presented Odissi Dance production ‘Prahallad’.
All the dance programmers were choreographed by Guru Dr. Gajendra Kumar Panda.
The event was compared by Dr. Mrutunjaya Rath.
