Spectacular Odissi Performance Marks End Of Mukteswar Dance Fest In Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: Curtains came down on the three-day Mukteswar Dance Festival in Bhubaneswar with spellbinding performances by renowned Odissi dancers of national and international repute on Monday.

The first programme of the evening was a chorus, presented by eminent music director Guru Nimakanta Routray and his group, eulogising the glory of Lord Shiva. Renowned Odissi danseuse Shikata Das started her programme with Abihinaya Nandika Keshari set to Raga Mallika and Taal Malika. The dance was choreographed by Guru Shikata Das, while music was composed by Guru Swapneswar Chakraborty and rhythm by Guru Sachidananda Das.

In duet, Himansu Kumar Ray and Diptiranjan Baral presented ‘Rudra Mandala’ which describes the presiding deity of Ekamra Pitha Lord Shiva in three forms – Rudra, Mahakala and Nataraja.

The concluding presentation was a group Odissi dance by Srjan, Bhubaneswar. Their first item was Shiva Tandava Stotram. It was choreographed by Guru Ratikanta Mohapatra while the music was composed by Pandit Bhubaneswar Mishra.

It was followed by Pallavi set to Raga Shankaravarana and Tala Ekatali. Their last item was Vande Suryam, whose Sanskrit lyric was penned by Pandit Nityananda Misra, music rendered by Agnimitra Behera and choreographed by Guru Ratikant Mohapatra.

Among others, Sulochana Das, Bhubaneswar mayor; Ranjan Kumar Das, director, Odia Language, Literature & Culture; Manmatha Kumar Satpathy, vice-president, Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi and Sangita Gosain, former chief executive, GKCM Odissi Research Centre were present. The programme was anchored by Srinibas Ghatuary and Sanhati Pani.

The three-day dance festival was organised by Odia Language, Literature and Culture department in association with Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi at the 10th century Mukteswar Temple.