Bhubaneswar: The 25th edition of Guru Pankaj Utsav, a dance festival, is scheduled to be held from March 17 to 21 at Rabindra Mandap here.
Adi Guru Pankaj Charan Das Parampara sanmaan instituted by Nalco will be presented on the first day of the festival to Priyambada Mohanty Hejmadi and Minati Mishra for their contributions to Odissi dance and cultural heritage of Odisha as well as to the nation.
The prestigious and spiritual Mahari Award which is instituted by Adi Guru of Odissi dance Late Pankaj Charan Das shall be presented March 21 to Vyjayanthi Kashi, a renowned Kuchipudi danseuse.
Each of the aforementioned awards carries prize money of Rs 50,000 along with citations and mementos.
It may be mentioned here that Vyjayanthi Kashi who is a well known dancer, researcher and choreographer of Bengaluru has been honoured with the Central Sangeet Natak Academy Award.
Notably, the 100th birth anniversary of Adi Guru Pankaj Charan Das is celebrated in association with GKCM Odissi Research Centre and Government of OLL&C March 17 at 9:30 am.
Several artistes of Odissi dance and music along with few dignitaries will pay tribute to Guruji at his statue installed on the premises of Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya by lighting the lamp and offering flowers.
The five-day festival is scheduled to be held in two sessions. While the first session will start from 4 pm to 6 pm, the next session will be from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm.
Around sixty solo dancers from the country and abroad will be performing on the occasion.
Caption
Vyjayanthi Kashi
