(From top) Dancer Harihar Dash and singer Debojit Saha entertain the crowd at the Gopalpur Beach Festival on Sunday in Berhampur. Pictures by Gopal Krishna Reddy

Berhampur, Dec. 27: Sunday at the Gopalpur beach was a night for the audience to dance to the tune of performers who had appeared on various music and dance competitions on television.

Winner of Zee TV’s Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Debojit Saha and his troupe from Mumbai had the audience cheering, while Harihar Das of Berhampur, who reached the finals of Colors channel’s India’s Got Talent Khoj-2, had them locking and popping to his hip-hop style.

Debojit was the star attraction last night, the third day of the Gopalpur Beach Festival, but traffic delayed his arrival.

He received a standing ovation when he arrived on stage and performed about 15 hit Hindi film songs.

Debojit, who came to Gopalpur with his wife and two-year-old daughter Danika, dominated the stage with his daughter by singing the hit song Chand Sifarish Jo Karta Hamari from film Fanna.

He won over the audience by jumping down from the stage and dancing with them.

Spontaneity was the flavour of the evening as even artistes from Sania Dance Academy of Bhubaneswar, began dancing to Debojit’s songs.

After the performance, Debojit told reporters that although as a musician he favours Hindustani classical above all else, he also respects the audience’s preferences. “My aim is to tour the world to spread the culture of India,” Debojit said.

The musician said it was important for youngsters to stop being self-centred and dedicate themselves to the country.

Harihar, who had to walk about four kilometres to reach Gopalpur due thanks to traffic snarls, said performing at the beach festival was a great opportunity for him.

“I am really thankful to the Gopalpur Beach Festival and the people of Ganjam who gave me a chance to showcase my talent. It has been a wonderful experience,” Harihar said.

The audience lapped up Harihar’s Western street dance.

Manipuri martial art and ‘Kabui’, a tribal dance by artistes from Manipur, Bihu from Assam and stories of Lord Krishna in dance form by local artistes gave the evening its traditional flavour.

“We have really enjoyed the evening,” said R. Kuber Reddy, who was present till the end of the cultural programme.

“About one lakh people came to Gopalpur to witness the festival. More people came as it was a Sunday and we were expecting it,” said V. Santosh Kumar, honourary secretary of the Ganjam District Hotel Association and co-convener of the festival.