Bhubaneswar, Oct. 9: A two-day cultural soiree in the capital city provided the perfect platform to a few differently-abled artistes to display their skills.

Kalashrama, a cultural organisation based in Bhubaneswar, organised the music, dance and drama event — Guru Dakshina — at Rabindra Mandap. The event concluded on Friday.

The opening day saw a solo performance on the guitar by Varanasi-based artiste Kamala Shankar. She used a special guitar made from a single block of wood with thicker walls and four melody strings, four chikari (rhythm strings) and 12 taraf (sympathetic strings) to create ripples of Hindustani classical music.

She passed on the baton to another artiste, who weaved magic with her moves. Odissi danseuse Sanjukta Das in her solo act performed three of the eight forms of Ashta-Nayika namely Vasakasajja Nayika (one dressed up for union), Virahotkanthita Nayika (one distressed by separation) and Khandita Nayika (one enraged with her lover).

New Delhi-based singer Diwakar Sharma, who shot to fame after participating in reality shows, sang many soft romantic numbers.

There were also a few group performances on the inaugural day. The audience enjoyed Odissi dance by Guru Gangadhar Pradhan Foundation.

The young students of Kalashrama performed folk dance ballet that sent out a message of environmental preservation.

The second day began with a performance by Nityananda Das and Bijaya Kumara Dash. They performed Odissi duet Priyasakha. The act showed two people embodied into one. They exhibited excellent coordination and Das, who had lost a leg in an accident few years ago, showed stunning movements on one leg.

The festival had invited artistes and troupes from all parts of the country. Much to the delight of the art aficionados, they were treated with the mime solo performed by Guwahati based Moinul Haque.

The act was followed by a Bharatnatyam performance by Purva School, which came all the way from Baroda, Gujarat.The concluding performance was a Gotipua act by students of Nakshyatra Gurukul.

“The festival was a holistic one. With recitals from classical to contemporary and from professionals and amateurs, it exhibited variety. It was a great spectacle,” said Shubash Archarya, an art enthusiast. Odissi exponent Gangadhar Pradhan was posthumously conferred the Guru Dakshina Samman while lecturer Biswal Kumar Jena of Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya received the Sumanta Samman.