Artistes from Odisha perform at the Sankirtan Mahotsav in Puri. Picture by Sarat Patra

Bhubaneswar, June 5: The three-day Sankirtan Mahotsav dedicated to devotional music concluded at Saradhabali in Puri with performances by artistes from all over the state and outside.

The artistes took out a colourful procession on Sunday, after which the performers from 30 districts of the state, Bengal, Manipur and Assam took the stage.

The groups from the state that performed were Patitapabana Sankirtan Mandali from Pipili, Maa Mangala Basantiya Sakirtana Mandali from Puri, Shree Radha Krishna Sankirtan Mandal from Kesinga, Balangir among others.

Veteran Odia artistes accompanied by youngsters in some of the troupes sang old folk devotional songs to the beats of the gongs and cymbals. Some of the noteworthy performances were by the Baul artistes from Bengal, Nata Sankirtan from Manipur and Bhortal from Assam.

“Out of the nine ways of offering devotion (Nabadha Bhakti), Sankirtan is the best medium to feel the divine presence. Apart from being the most popular rural-based art form, Sankirtan creates a spiritual awakening among the masses and establishes a strong bonding of peace, bliss, cultural amity and friendship,” said Chitta Ranjan Mallia, secretary of Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi that organised the event along with the tourism and culture department of the state.

Most of the themes centred on Vaishnavite devotional pieces, episodes from mythology and Shreemad Bhagabat.

The audience loved the traditional form of devotional music. “It was an amalgamation of spiritual ecstasy and folk and mythological literature,” said Bibhudatta Moharana, a local art lover.

Seminars on different aspects of Sankirtan were held at the historic Annapurna Theatre in Puri on all three days in the morning where distinguished speakers such as Bhaskar Mishra, Sunil Rath, Pandit Sangram Acharya, Pandit Ghasiram Mishra and Kailash Chandra Tikayat discussed steps to revive the fading art form that is now limited to temple events or prominent rituals.

“We want Sankirtans to be hosted in houses like they used to be a couple of decades ago,” said Acharya.

The first Sankirtan Mahotsav was organised in Bhubaneswar last year.

After its success, the second edition was hosted in Puri this year to rekindle the interest among people towards folk music there.