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Bhubaneswar, June 18: Rabindra Mandap was packed to capacity and Odissi performances followed one after fascinating other Saturday. Recitals, including ‘Mangalacharan’, ‘Guru Bandana’, ‘Mahadeva’ and ‘Durga’ were followed by resounding applause that appeared to intensify with each performance.
The event was titled ‘Upasaranam’ and it was organised by Srjan founded by eminent Odissi dancer Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra. The objective of the festival was to discover new talents as soloists.
As many as 16 artistes presented Mangalacharan set in Ektali taal and Puriadhanasri raag. The dance was originally choreographed by Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra and music was composed by Pandit Bhubaneswar Mishra.
Mangalacharan was followed by ‘Guru Bandana’. The dance was choreographed by Guru Ratikant Mohapatra and music was given by S Vighnaraja. Sixteen students performed the dance.
The evening had four more dance recitals in store. ‘Batu’, set to raag Kalyan, ‘Pancham Savari Pallavi’ set to pancham savari taal and chandrakosh raag were two of them. ‘Mahadeva’ and ‘Durga’ were the other two recitals staged by the students.
Ratikant highlighted why he had given the event the title ‘Upasaranam’. “Upasaranam means on the path to excellence. It is a commitment to pass on the gifts of traditional art and artistic endevours that we continue to hold in trust. Upasaranam fulfills a long-felt need to showcase talent of our students on a major platform,” he said.
He also expressed admiration for contribution of Odissi exponents to the dance form.
“The legacy of great teachers such as Guru Pankaj Das, Padma Vibhushan Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, Guru Gangadhar Pradhan, has made Odissi a major classical dance with global reach,” Ratikant added.
Guru Banamali Moharana, Guru Mohini Mohan Patnaik, Guru Durga Charan Ranbir and Surendra Das were also present on the occasion.
