Dancers perform Gotipua (top) and Sattriya, while musicians (below) enthral the audience at Konark Dance Festival on Tuesday. Pictures by Sarat Patra

Bhubaneswar, Dec. 2: The open-air auditorium on the Sun Temple premises reverberated with recitals of the ancient dance form, Gotipua, on the second day of the annual Konark festival.

This is for the first time that the event featured a folk dance performed in remembrance of Lord Jagannath and Lord Krishna.

The dancers churned out graceful body movements, along with significant facial expressions, under the direction of Gotipua exponent Birabara Sahoo.

The evening also witnessed a remarkable performance by Sattriya dancer Ghana Kanta Borbayan and his troupe from Assam. The beautiful dance steps accompanied by the enchanting music were a treat to the eyes of classical dance lovers.

On the inaugural day, the audiences witnessed a dance drama that showcased how the temple of Lord Jagannath came into being. The recital, presented by the students of Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Odissi Research Centre and Utkal University of Culture, provided an apt start to the festival ahead of Nabakalebar.

The dancers portrayed various rituals associated with the ceremony that occurs once in 12 years. Dressed in traditional Odissi costumes, the group of around 15 dancers matched their steps with each other.

This was followed by a Kathak recital by eminent dancer Sovana Narayan from Delhi and her troupe. Their recital titled Bhaba Chakra was a symbolic representation of the cyclic existence associated with chariot wheel and the story of the sculptors of Konark.

“There could be no better feeling than enjoying classical dance under the open sky. The atmosphere is enchanting,” said Dhiren Routray, 44, a viewer.

The Telegraph also caught up with Ashish Mohanty, an NRI settled in Chicago. He makes it a point to attend the festival every year. “I have been visiting Odisha during this time for the past eight years. I do not get a chance to see classical dance shows very often, so this is the best opportunity for me to watch some of the best performances,” said Mohanty.

The five-day festival, which concludes on December 5, will witness a number of eminent dancers such as Sobha Naidu, Ranjan Gouhar, V.P. Dhanajyan, Rupashree Mohapatra and so on.

The fest, hosted by the state tourism department and the Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi, aims to provide a platform to artistes from across the country to showcase various classical dance forms.