Bhubaneswar: The 32nd Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra (GKCM) Award Festival reached a significant artistic milestone on its third evening Monday with the presentation of Saugandhika Aaranam, a rare revival of the ancient Marganatya tradition rooted in Bharata Muni’s Natyashastra.
Organised by Srjan–Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Odissi Nrityabasa in collaboration with Sri Sri University, Kataka, the five-day festival is celebrating India’s rich classical arts at Rabindra Mandap.
The evening’s programme began with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by eminent artists and cultural personalities, including Guru Aruna Mohanty, Guru Kumkum Mohanty, Guru Dhaneswar Swain and theatre personality Prabodh Rath, along with Guru Ratikant Mohapatra.
Presented by Chidakash Kalalay–Centre of Art and Divinity, Saugandhika Haranam was choreographed and directed by Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee, Tagore National Scholar Piyal Bhattacharya. Drawing upon the Nata-Dharma Parampara, the production sought to reconstruct the aesthetics and performance vocabulary of ancient Indian theatre, integrating nritta, geeta, vadya and abhinaya.
Based on the 14th-century Rupaka of Vishwanatha Kaviraja, the Sanskrit play depicts Bhima’s quest for the celestial Saugandhika flowers to fulfil Draupadi’s wish. His encounter with Hanuman transforms the episode into a powerful lesson in humility, restraint and the true meaning of strength.