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Bhubaneswar, July 16: The relation between a teacher and a student is divine; many illustrious students have devoted their lives to serving their gurus. An event at Rabindra Mandap Saturday offered a glimpse of this unique devotion.
Dancers from different parts of the country came together in a show of respect to Odissi exponent guru Deba Prasad Das at the event organised by Tridhara. The city-based academy dedicated to Odissi, folk, tribal dance and music organised the event to mark the 30th death anniversary of guru Deba Prasad.
Dancers from Rourkela, Paralakhemundi, Nirakarpur, Bramhapur, Angul, Cuttack, Phulbani, Chatrapur, Delhi and Balasore presented a multitude of recitals at the programme.
Dances followed one after the other in ceaseless succession from 9am to 9 pm.
Dancers from Tridhara began proceedings with the performance ‘Panchaveda Bandana’. It was followed by a presentation of ‘Kalabati Pallavi’ by dancers of ‘Nrutya Archana’.
The afternoon session included presentations such as ‘Dasa-abtara’, ‘Abhinaya’, ‘Astha Sambhu’, ‘Shiva Stuti’, and ‘Chousathi Jogini’ among others. Dancers from Phulbani Natraj Kalamandir presented ‘Shiva-Tandav’.
In the concluding session, artistes from Delhi presented recitals including ‘Debadhara’ and ‘Abhinaya’, while dancers from Balasore presented ‘Krishna-Katha’.
Event organiser Gajendra Kumar panda said: “All performers showed their love and devotion to Guru Deba Prasad through their recitals. It is a unique event as artistes from different parts of the state came together at this venue.”
Guru Deba Prasad is considered by many as one of the four first-generation gurus of Odissi. He was a recipient of the 2009 Sangeet Natak Akademi award and 1974 Orissa Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.
He was the youngest of the trinity of Odissi gurus, the others being Guru Pankaj Charan Das and Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra. Together the trio helped revive Odissi, which had been on the verge of extinction post Independence.
Deba Prasad was the first guru to take Odissi outside the state in 1958. He was then accompanied by young dancers Priyambada Mohanty and Dhirendranath Pattnaik to a youth festival in Delhi.
The guru later went on a world tour accompanied by danseuse Indrani Rahman, and leading musicians on the pakhawaj and ukkuta. Indrani presented a dance composition before Queen Elizabeth II, several other heads of state, and great artistes such as Martha Graham. The tour is considered a monumental effort by connoisseurs. Guru Deba Prasad passed away July 16, 1986.
