Vishwa Mohan Bhatt performs in Rourkela on Friday evening. Pictures by Uttam Kumar Pal

Bhubaneswar, Jan. 25: A Bhartnatyam dance recital by noted dancer Geeta Chandran marked the beginning of the three-day Spic Macay State Convention at National Institute of Technology (NIT), Rourkela.

The cultural ceremony started at Bhubaneswar Behera Auditorium on the NIT campus that was decorated with floral embellishments. Geeta Chandran first spoke about the role Spic Macay had played in moulding her dance career. Later, she presented a devotional dance rendition.

The mellifluous tunes from the unique string instrument, Mohan Veena, played by Grammy award winner Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, left the audience in awe and admiration.

He performed for over an hour spellbinding the listeners. “I am glad that the team of Spic Macay and NIT, Rourkela organised such a delightful evening. I am thankful for the hospitality of the people here and appreciate the sound system of the auditorium,” said Bhatt.

Other artistes, slated to captivate the art and culture aficionados of the Steel City during the cultural convention, include Bhubaneswar-based Odissi musician Ramhari Das and Delhi-based theatre director G.S. Chani and his troupe. The group will present two productions — a street play and a stage play.

“It was an absolutely wonderful experience to witness the performances of such eminent artistes. We hope these events are hosted more often, so that we can enjoy more of classical music and dance,” said Upasana Misra, a student.

Apart from the performances, the event also includes workshops by the artistes. On Saturday, a Bharatnatyam workshop was organised at the Students’ Activity Centre by Geeta Chandran when the danseuse explained the nuances of the classical dance form to interested participants.

“Spic Macay has played a significant role in developing an inclination of youth towards classical performing arts. Events such as these that have both performances and interactive workshops indeed help the cause,” said the dancer.

Also, painters and artists from Odisha hosted an oil painting workshop today, while a clay and terracotta-making workshop will take place tomorrow.