Students celebrate the golden jubilee of Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya on Wednesday. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, Nov. 26: Students, alumni, former and present faculty and staff members of Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya participated in a procession today to mark the beginning of the five-day golden jubilee celebrations.

Altogether 1,200 participants and folk art groups of the state walked from Sachivalaya Marg to Ekamra Haat and then back to the college.

“This is an extremely proud occasion for all of us. The institute has been instrumental in enhancing the performing art and culture among the youths of the state. This is the time to celebrate its achievements and we are lucky to be a part of it,” said Mohan Sairam, a student of the drama department.

Since its inception, the college has produced a number of actors, singers, musicians, theatre artistes, filmmakers and instrumentalists.

Many of cultural personalities of the state took part in the procession. State culture and tourism minister Ashok Panda, culture secretary Arabind Padhee, mayor Ananta Narayan Jena marched along with the students.

In the afternoon, Odissi dancer Minati Mishra and classicist Bharat Gupt conducted a lecture session at Rabindra Mandap where they helped the students understand the classical dance forms of the country and taught Natya Shastra, the ancient piece on stagecraft.

The session was quite beneficial for the students. “I got to know a lot of unknown facts about Natya Shastra and how it could be successfully implemented in our performances,” said Ramanuja Dash, a student of the instrumental music department of the college.

The opening day concluded with the inauguration of the heritage gate in front of the institute by chief minister Naveen Patnaik.

A one-hour documentary on the university’s achievements and its glory was also released along with the theme song of the institute composed by Laxmikant Palit. President Pranab Mukherjee is scheduled to visit the institute on November 29.