(From top) Artistes perform Bagha Nacha and Sambalpuri dance at the Ganjam Mahotsav in Berhampur. Pictures by Gopal Krishna Reddy

Berhampur, Jan. 5: The six-day Ganjam Mahotsav at the ITI Ground pulled thousands of spectators on the very first day.

There were performances of Odissi dance by Music Circle Berhampur, Sambalpuri dance by Guru Kelucharan Kalatirtha, Berhampur and modern dance by Suri Group and Ganesh Dance Group both from Berhampur.

The audience appreciated the Ranapa dance organised by District Culture Department, Bagha Nacha (tiger dance), snake and snake charmer dance by Badrinarayan and party.

“We stress on folk dances of Ganjam. However, we do not neglect modern dance. We have planned to stage at least one modern dance recital daily,” said Pitabas Panda, one of the organisers.

The highlight of the event was a performance by conch-blowers from Ganjam district. They presented various formations blowing jodi-sankha or double-conch simulataneously.

“I am delighted with the stage and audience of Ganjam Mahotsav. Fifteen artists, including myself, performed the jodi-sankha,” said Rajendra Prasad Patra (39), leader of the famous Folk Dance Group of Narendrapur.

The group had performed at the inaugural ceremony of the Commonwealth Games at New Delhi.

“I am very fortunate to be part of the group of Bhagaban Sahu for 25 years,” said Prasad who formed his own troupe five years ago after the death of Bhagaban Sahu.

The group performs ‘ranapa’, ‘chadheya nrutya’, ‘ghumra’, ‘lahudi’, ‘Naba Durga nrutya’ and ‘bagha nacha’ besides ‘jodi-sankha nrutya’.

“The activities of folk artists in our village Narendrapur always attracted me towards the folk art form since my childhood and I’m hapy to be a performer,” said Prasad.

Revenue minister Surya Narayan Patro, who inaugurated the Mahotsav, said while the Gopalpur Beach Festival was being organised to attract more tourists and develop tourism as a sector, the Ganjam Mahotsav intends to preserve the region’s folk culture which is dwindling.

“Although the aims and objectives of the festivals are different, both pull huge crowds.

If sustained, it would boost the social and economic development of the entire Ganjam district,” the minister said.