post news network
Bhubaneswar, August 7: Artists Anjan Narayan Lenka, Prahallad Sahoo, Bhalabhadra Panda and Laxmidhar Panda were the key performers on the second day of the Pala festival at Mahadev Temple in Chandrasekharpur Sunday.
Anjan presented ‘Bengabati’, that is Sita in her previous birth. “The story goes that a snake once spewed poison into the milk that sage Mandara was about to consume. A frog sees this and jumps into the poisoned milk to prevent the sage from drinking the milk. The sage blesses the frog that it would turn into a girl if it had indeed acted to protect him. The frog instantly turns into a girl and the sage names her Bengabati,” Anjan says of the tale.
‘Bengabati’ was followed by ‘Naisadha’ by Prahallad. Naisadha was the story of love and marriage of King Nala and Damayanti.
Artiste Balabhadra presented Rukmini Parinaya which is the tale of Krishna’s marriage to Rukmini the daughter of king Vishmaka. “Krishna kidnaps Rukmini on her request to keep her from marrying Shishupala against her will,” he says of the story.
Laxmidhar in turn presented ‘Shakuntalam’ which is the tale of king Dushyanta and Shakuntala. The Pala presentation was organised by Shree Jagannath Pala Research Foundation.
Though it is a traditional art form of Orissa few Pala artistes are preserving the art form. The seven artistes who had come together at the programme were among those who have dedicated their lives to preserve the art form.
Anjan feels the government should support the art form. “What we are doing is inadequate to protect the art. Youngsters are moving away from it. I am afraid a day will come when Pala will cease to exist.” Anjan said.
Another artiste Surendranath Chhotray said Pala artistes needed more encouragement. “The Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja Samman was actually instituted to honour Pala artistes. However, the award has not been given to Pala artistes, which is very disappointing. The government is also not providing us with opportunities to take part in cultural events and festivals it organises. We have been excluded from such festivals,” Surendranath added.
Balabhadra, in turn, suggested that the government should establish an academy to teach Pala and sought that measures be taken to resume the system of paying a monthly sum of `3,000 to these artistes.
