Foreign artistes perform at the International Friendship Festival in Puri. Pictures by Sarat Patra

Bhubaneswar, Feb. 20: Jagannath culture brought together visitors from across the country and abroad at the annual International Friendship festival that was hosted in Puri and Bhubaneswar on Saturday and Monday respectively.

Keeping aside their religious differences, the participants joined hands to find spiritual bliss in traditional dance forms and plays.

With peace and unity as the central theme of the festival, the delegates took training in each other’s cultural dance forms and even presented multilingual plays. About 25 foreigners including nationals of Russia, Ukraine and Czech Republic staged dance based on mythology. The dance programmers in Indian style were mostly depictions of Radha and Krishna’s love and also the tales of the naughty baby Krishna in Vrindavan. Russian folk dance and different European performing arts, too, were showcased at the event.

“I have been a part of the festival for the past five years. Being a Russian, it feels great to act in Indian plays and perform Spanish dance forms,” said Maria from Moscow, an active member of the festiva;’s organising team.

The festival, organised by Sri Jagannath Peace and Harmony Congress, used to be hosted for three days in Puri. But this year, the event was also hosted in Bhubaneswar at the Hi-Tech Institute of Technology.

In Puri, it was held at a resort.

Some of the most applauded acts in Puri were Gosthi Nrutya (a group dance on rasalila of Radha and Krishna) and Kathak dances by Russian artistes. The programme concluded with a kirtan on each of the days.

“The culture and stories associated with Lord Jagannath brings the participants from European countries to the festival every year. They love dressing up in Indian costumes and enact the lives of Radha and other girls in love with Krishna,” said Deba Das, an organiser.

Apart from the cultural programmes during evening, the festival also saw yoga and meditation camps hosted for the visitors. “I find the ancient exercise techniques and meditation extremely useful to keep the mind calm and body fit,” said Linda, another participant.