Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) and Sangeet Natak Akademi organised a spectacular five-day event called the Konark Festival, displaying the grandeur of our classical dance forms. The 33rd edition of the festival was inaugurated on December 1 by Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik. Konark Festival takes place from December 1 to 5 every year and offers glimpses of the transcendent state of art and culture of our country. This year’s festival was no less than any other year, with pioneering classical dancers showcasing the beauty of Indian classical dance forms like Odissi, Bharatanatyam, Mohiniyattam, Kuchipudi, Kathak and Manipuri.
It’s a delight for several tourists and visitors from all across the globe to gather amidst the smell of flowers and incense against the majestic backdrop of the Sun Temple at Konark, witnessing the sheer talent of the dancers. The Telegraph soaked it all in over five days at Konark Open Air Auditorium a few metres away from the serene Chandrabhaga Beach.
Day 1
Kathak performance by Rajendra Gangani and group of Guru Kundanlal Gangani Foundation from New Delhi showcased a Kathak dance recital named Chhand-Laya- Gati.
Minister of tourism and Odia language and culture Aswini Kumar Patra; and minister of electronic and IT, sports and youth services, Tusharkanti Behera lit the lamp to inaugurate the ceremony on Day 1. This was followed by the chief minister’s address. “I welcome everyone to this beautiful open-air auditorium in the premises of this 13th century Unesco World Heritage Site. With the Sun Temple acting as the grand backdrop for the stage, together we’ll witness the beauty of Indian classical dance performances by several prolific artistes from India and across the globe,” said chief minister Naveen Patnaik at the inaugural ceremony.
I am very fortunate to have been beautifully knitted with Konark Festival since its inception in different roles, watching the infrastructure being developed, anchoring, singing, coordinating, organising and enjoying... watching an art baby grow every year with something new added to its ambience and presentation. Sand art is an added attraction. It is able to attract art lovers and tourists from all parts of the world. I wish more and more success to this internationally acclaimed festival and the bonding with me forever,” said Sangita Gosain, coordinator of cultural programmes at the Konark Festival.
An Odissi performance by Datuk Ramli Ibrahim and Group of Sutra Foundation hailing from Malaysia kick-started the inaugural show. Datuk Ramli Ibrahim, an accomplished classical dancer, leads the group who put up the maiden performance that evening, showcasing dance recitals on Jaya Ram conceptualised and choreographed by Guru Gajendra Kumar Panda ad Datuk Ramli Ibrahim. The live music that accompanied the performance was based on a musical composition by Guru Gajendra Kumar Panda, Pandit Gopal Chandra Panda, Guru Satchidananda Das and Sangita Panda.
Day 2
The second day began with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp by Justice Odisha High Court, Jaswant Singh; ambassador of Nepal to India Shankar Prasad Sharma; and director general of police Sunil Kumar Bansal. The evening witnessed performances of Manipuri and Odissi dance forms.
We were enthralled by the breathtaking dance of Vasanta Raas celebrating the festival of colours, Holi, by L. Upendro Sharma and Group from Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy from Imphal. The delicacy of movement, the dazzling costumes and the wonderfully colourful choreography left the audience awestruck.
Meera Das and Group of Gunjan Dance Academy of Cuttack performed Odissi pieces Soorya Stutee, Pallavi and Sei Ramani. The sculpted postures against the sculptures looked ethereal. It was conceptualised by Kedar Mishra and choreographed by Guru Meera Das. The recitals had music composed by Sumanta Mohanty, Guru Swapneswar Chakraborty and Guru Srinibas Satapathy and rhythm composition by Guru Satchidananda Das.
Day 3
Justice Odisha High Court Jaswant Singh; additional chief secretary of Odia language, literature and culture department, government of Odisha Satyabrata Sahu; and secretary of Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi Prabodh Rath inaugurated the evening by lighting the ceremonial lamp for an Odissi and Mohiniyattam showcase on Day 3.
Gopika Verma and Group of Dasyam Centre of Mohiniyattam from Chennai Chitrangam performed Aaj Aaye Shyam Mohan and Bhajagovindam recreating India’s rich cultural heritage through a recital of the mythologies deeply embedded within our roots and history.
Debamitra Sengupta and Group from Kolkata Mayur Lalit Dance Academy from Calcutta bedazzled the crowd with a mesmerising dance recital titled Numo Bharatam — an ode to India and its glory and prowess. The graceful Odissi dancers celebrated ancient India’s glory and its rich cultural heritage and concluded their showcase with the recitals Malkauns Pallavi and Nayanaarpranam.
Day 4
Chief advisor to the chief minister R. Balakrishnan and principal accountant general (A&E) Ananta Kishore Behera inaugurated the ceremony on Day 4.
Pitambar Biswal and group of Suravi from Bhubaneswar showcased Sunya Brahmanda (The Void Universe) and Mathura Mangala with music composed by Himanshu Sekhar Swain and dance choreographed by Guru Pitambar Biswal. The second half transported the audience to an alternate reality where nothing but the power of dance and being rooted to earth mattered.
Leela Samson and group from Spanda Dance Academy hailing from Chennai presented three Bharatanatyam dance recitals titled Tandava Nrityakari Gajanana, Atishaya and Thillana, displaying the musical expertise of composer Tirugokaranam Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar and choreography expertise of renowned Bharatanatyam dancer Leela Samson. Hindu mythology and Vedic concepts of the universe were deeply ingrained in the performances by the truly talented dancers who enthralled the audience with their impeccable moves.