Performances by artistes on the concluding day of Ganjam Mahotsav. Pictures by Gopal Krishna Reddy

Berhampur, Jan 10: The curtains came down on Ganjam Mahotsav on Sunday evening with a Daskathia performance by Ramahari Padhi and his assistant from Haladiapadar, and Bharatlila by Santosh Padhi and group from Mahanala.

Daskathia, a popular form of art in Ganjam, is performed by two people. One is the chief singer and the other is a ‘palia’ who helps the singer in singing and acting.

Bharatlila is a type of folk dance performed in Ganjam. It is based on an episode called Subhadra Parinaya (marriage of Subhadra), which is borrowed from the Mahabharata. It depicts how Lord Krishna plays the role of a mediator between Arjun and Subhadra.

Ramhari Padhi, who performed Daskathia, is a 76-year-old man. He has been practicing this art form for 61 years. “I started performing Daskathia in 1954-55. Then I was around 15. I used to get 50 paise to perform in a show,” Ramhari said.

Union minister Chandra Sekhar Sahu, Rajya Sabha member Ramchandra Khuntia, deputy general manager of Sambad Berhampur edition Prasad Rao stressed on the need to enlist Ganjam Mahotsav in the calendar of the culture department. All the speakers said though the Mahotsav is a crowd puller, it was organised every year without any government assistance.

Bikram Panda, president of the Ganjam Mahotsav committee, thanked the public for their support. “The huge crowd that thronged the Mahotsav daily has given us the encouragement to organise the festival in a grand manner in future,” said Panda.

Earlier, on the fifth day, a dance celebrating the Kothisala festival by artiste Simanchal and group reminded the people of a rich tradition of Ganjam.

“The festival of Kothisala is a socio-cultural function continuing for several days during the month of Asween (corresponding to September or October), among the scheduled caste people, parallel to the festivals of other communities of Hindus. The walls of the Kothisala (the community house of congregation) are painted with the frescos of different goddesses, which constitute a rich heritage of fine art of the region. The frescos are painted in different attractive colours, which captivate the heart and mind of the onlookers in reverence to such goddesses. While celebrating the Kothisala festival, both men and women devotees invoke the blessings of goddesses for their peace and happiness,” said Simanchal.

The artistes from local Sanskruti Bhabanam performed Kuchipudi and Bharatnatyam.

The other items included bhajans by the artistes from Gandharva Kala Niketan, classical songs by the artistes from Kala Bikas Kendra of Chhatrapur, folk dance by Nrutyam of Berhampur, Binakar dance by Bichitra Barnali Natya Sansad of Digapahandi, modern dance by Dance Track and Dance Attack of Berhampur.

Artistes from Natraj Kala Mandir of Phulbani performed Odissi and folk dance and the artistes from Pipili also performed Gotipua dance. Sarat Kumar Patnaik, principal of Uma Charan Patnaik Engineering School, demanded that the Industrial Training Institute, Berhampur be named after Kavi Samrat Upendra Bhanja.

Patnaik also suggested that the local Women’s Polytechnic College be named after Kavi Surya Baladev Rath to remind the younger generations of the legacy of Oriya literature and culture. He also proposed to set up a music college in Berhampur. Shyantanu Rath, director of All India Radio, Cuttack, who was posted in Berhampur for several years, said that Ganjam district had been able to retain its separate identity through its literature, art and culture.