post news network, Bhubaneswar, June 10: Kalaniketan, a cultural body, felicitated around 110 budding artists for their outstanding paintings during their silver jubilee celebrations, which was held at the Soochana Bhawan in city, Wednesday.
Around 1000 students from different parts of the state participated in a state-level painting exhibition, which was held in the month of May. The exhibition was organised by the cultural body with an intention to provide a platform for the budding artists.
While 80 students were awarded for their extraordinary paintings, 30 students were given consolation prizes in the course of the programme. The participants drew different paintings that included Pattachitra and Saura paintings.
“Our organisation provides platform to the budding artists so that they can show their hidden talents. We received a huge response from the students from across the state during the exhibition, which was held last month. We feel proud to felicitate them,” said Kamala Kant Mohapatra, secretary of the cultural body.
The winners also felt encouraged after being felicitated by the cultural body. “The theme of my painting was ‘protection of our environment’. We all have to be conscious to save our planet before any further delay. Therefore, I made a painting of the green earth, which portrays the planet without any pollution. I am happy with the prize. All other participants were also good as they through their painting conveyed messages to the people,” said Purbipratigyan Behera of Sundergarh. Behera was given the first prize for her painting.
Anwesha Sethy bagged the prize for her Pattachitra painting. She drew a painting of the Lord Jagannath to mark the upcoming Nabakalebara. “Nabakalebara is a mega festival of Orissa. So I painted the Lord and dedicated it to the festival,” said Sethy.
After the felicitation programme, numerous tiny tots enthralled the audience with their endearing and enthusiastic performances, in a spectacular show that was held to mark the occasion. Vibrant music, breathtaking colours and highly coordinated movements set the tone for the various folk dances performed during the show.
Moreover, a book, ‘Smaranika’, was also unveiled by Debendra Nath Jena, vice-chancellor of the Utkal University of Culture, during the event.
