Curtains Go Up On Mukteswar Dance Festival In Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: The 3-day Mukteswar Dance Festival featuring eminent dancers from across the country took off to an exciting start at Mukteswar Temple in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.

The evening’s programme started with the recitation of Shiva Vandana – Parameswar Hara Baba Mukteswar Samsara Sara Vidhata invoking the blessing of the Lord Shiva by Mahendra Kumar Acharya and Group.

It was followed by solo Odissi dance by internationally acclaimed Odissi danseuse Sarita Mishra. Her first presentation was ode to Shiva followed by Abhinaya on the story of Bhagirathi – Ganga. In duet presentation, dancers Gayatri Ranbir and Sourav Mohanty started with a Sudhadesi Pallavi followed by Abinaya Pasani Ahalya.

The concluding item of the evening was a group Odissi presentation by the students of Utkal University of Culture, Bhubaneswar. Their first presentation was Panchaparameswar, which was followed by Gawati Pallavi and
Abhinaya Brajebasantam.

The festival is organided by Odia Language, Literature & Culture department in association with Odisha Sangita Natak Akademi.

Among others, Ashok Chandra Panda, Minister, Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Public Enterprises, Science and Technology; Satyabrata Sahu, additional chief secretary of the department; Ranjan Kumar Das, director; Guru Aruna Mohanty, president, Odisha Sangita Natak Akademi and Prabodh Kumar Rath, secretary, Odisha Sangita Natak Akademi were present.

The festival was live telecast by DD-Bharti while Odia Language, Literature and Culture department arranged its live streaming on social media platforms.