(Top) Sagarika Mohanty and Saswat Joshi and (above) Chandrakanta Sutar and Snehamanjari Hota perform various compositions during an event titled Jugalbandi in Bhubaneswar. Pictures by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, March 22: Duets have always been charming when it comes to music and dance. People in the city witnessed some duets of Odissi dance on Monday at an event titled Jugalbandi. Held at the Rabindra Mandap here, the concert was organised by troupe Mokshya.

The jugalbandis, showcased at the event, illustrated different aspects of Lord Shiva and Goddess Shakti. Seven duets by different dancers portrayed a distinct phase of the divine couple.

The series began with a performance by dancers Sagarika Mohanty and Saswat Joshi.

The duo performed on a composition on Ja Devi Sarwabhutesu. Joshi, known for his light feet and exquisite movements, performed gracefully while Sagarika’s expressions on various avatars of Goddess Durga were beautiful.

After this piece, it was the turn of Itishree Mohanty and Deepak Chhotray to illustrate the subtlety of love in a woman, which makes her divine. In the piece Meera, Itishree played the renowned mystic devotee and poetess Meerabai. Chhotray, too, danced with poise, playing Lord Krishna, who was believed to have charmed Meerabai.

The duet was performed on a well-loved folk song Mo Akhire Nachuchi Nandabala on raga Pilu on ek taali.

Later, dancers Subhas Chandra Swain and Monalisa Pradhan presented a duet on the dynamic Shiva shloka, Omkara Bindu Sanjuktan. The dancers showed good synchronisation in their jugalbandi.

“Not only the concept of presenting duet dance performance is beautiful, but also the recitals are impressive,” said Tulasi Mishra, a dance lover.

“The dancers performed on a wide range of themes. I liked all performances as they were very well executed,” said Mrutyanjaya Biswal, who was present among the audience.

The audience appreciated performances by Savitri Mallick and Niladri Mohanty on a Shivasuttee, Kshanaprabha Parida and Abhijit Deb, Chandrakanta Sutar and Snehamanjari Hota, Luckprajna Mohanty and Purnashree Rout.

“It’s good to see that such a beautiful concept has been revived by Mokshya,” said renowned danseuse Minati Mishra, who was present at the event.

The annual event was held after a gap of three years.

Guru Ramhari Das and Odissi vocalist Sangita Gosain, too, attended the event.