Bhubaneswar: Utkal University of Culture on Thursday organised its own cultural programme ‘Sanskruti Bichitra’ at Rabindra Mandap in Bhubaneswar.
Earlier, the programme was reportedly being held at regular intervals. But, due to the outbreak of COVID 19, it was discontinued. After four years hiatus, the university once again organised the programme, bringing smiles on the faces of its students and giving an evening of entertainment to the art lovers of the capital city.
The programme witnessed the presence of esteemed guests like Principal Secretary of Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department, Government of Odisha, Sanjeev Kumar Mishra, poet and retired administrator Rabinarayan Senapati, former culture secretary Manoranjan Panigrahi and former Vice Chancellor of the university Amiya Kumar Pattanayak who inaugurated the festival by lighting the auspicious lamp.
In their speeches, they praised the university for bringing back one of popular programmes held in the capital city and showered their best wishes on the students and researchers.
In his address, university Vice Chancellor Prof Prasanna Kumar Swain informed how in the coming days the students are going to play important roles in spreading the art and culture of the state. At the same time, he put forth students’ grievance that they are not getting chance to perform at any of the cultural festivals organised by the state government.
Responding to this, Principal Secretary Mishra said he will personally look into it and take steps to ensure the students of the university should get chance to perform at major festivals.
The cultural evening took off to a fine start with the students of the Odissi Vocal department treating the art connoisseurs with soul stirring vocal recitals.
They under the direction of Guru Dr Dheeraj Kumar Mohapatra and Guru Dr Niladree Kalyan Das commenced with a traditional ‘Chandan Bahuda’ song ‘Sari Bari Bihara’, written by Bhaktakabi Banamali. They went on to present Kamodi Pallavi, Hanshadhwani Pallavi and Bhairavi Pallavi ragas.
The students who transported the audience to a different world were Rashmirekha Parida, Monalisha Behera, Rinki Dhangda Majhi, Payal Sahu, Sonali Ojha, Arpita Sahoo, Itishree Jena, Tanushree Mishra, Avishek Ray, Om Prakash Kar, Soumyaranjan Sahu, Jitendra Ojha, Rahul Bal, Amiya Kumar Barik and Somnath Sahoo.
They were ably supported by Guru Dibakar Parida on the Mardala, Guru Jabahar Mishra on the Flute, Sunil Behera on the Manjira and Guru Dheeraj Kumar Mohapatra on the Harmonium.
Next, the students of Odissi Dance department came onto the stage to showcase their talent. First, Kalyani Mohanty, Suchismita Sahu, Mamata Patra, T Tulika Reddy and Raj Kumar Kar presented ‘Shivapanchaka’, choreographed by Padma Shri recipient Guru Gangadhar Pradhan, directed by Guru Dr Manoranjan Pradhan, music composed by Sangeeta Sudhakar Balakrushna Das. Through their evocative body language, they captivated the audience.
Second, Deepak Kumar Nandi, Biswajit Mohapatra, Arjit Jena, Chintamani Luha, Rajkumar Kar and Bibhu Prasad Behera presented ‘Dashavatar’, choreographed by Padma Vibhushan Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, directed by Guru Dr Manoranjan Pradhan and music composed by Pandit Bhubaneswar Mishra.
Their clarity movements and neat presentation describing ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu such as Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Parashuram, Rama, Krishna, Buddha and Kalki made the recital enjoyable.
The evening came to an end with group Mayurbhanj style Chhau dance performances by the students of Chhau Dance department. The dancers including Ashok Kumar Mohanta, Chittaranjan Mohanta, Rajat Kumar Mohanta, Babita Mohanta, Tejaswini Mohanta and Suman Bindhani presented ‘Keuta Keutuni’, narrating the lifestyle of fishing community of coastal districts of Odisha.
The concluding item of the evening was ‘Adi Nrutya’, presented by Bijay Kumar Mohanta, Samarjit Tipiria, Ashok Kumar Mohanta, Chittaranjan Mohanta and Rajat Kumar Mohanta.
While this segment of Chhau dance doesn’t have any subject, the dancers perform ‘Kalli Bhanga’, ‘Kalli Bhanga Hatiyaar Dhara’ and ‘Kada Hatiyaar Dhara’, coming under Lasya, Lasya and Tandava and Tandava categories respectively.
The dance items were directed by Chhau guru Guru Uttam Kumar Mohanta. The Chhau dancers’ vibrant presentation created a rich visual tapestry.
The accompanists who lent the dancers a good support were Bighnaraj Dhada and Gouramohan Mohanta on the Dhol, Biranchi Mohanta on the Mahuri and Uttam Kumar Mohanta on the Dhumsa.
While Assistant Professor Dr Ashish Mohapatra and Dr Gyanaranjan Panda donned anchor’s hat for the evening, department head Dr Chakradhar Behera smoothly managed it.
