One of the performances at the cultural evening in Puri. Picture by Sarat Patra

Puri has turned into a hub of cultural activities with the rath yatra on in the city. A kaleidoscope of cultural events including music and dance are being held around the Gundicha temple to celebrate the festival that has attracted visitors from all over the globe.

Held at various spots on the Sarada Bali, the sandy street-sides of Grand Road around the Gundicha temple, the cultural events range from melodious bhajan evenings to lokanrutya performances (folk dances).

While soul-stirring bhajans sung by the late Nimai Harichandan and Bhikari Bal can be heard throughout the day outside the temple, where the deities (Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra) now reside, the evenings too have a mesmerising charm of their own. The Puri district culture office has set up a stage in a field close to the Gundicha temple, where everyday, one can see budding talents of the holy city dedicating their performance of Odissi dance or music to the deities.

Well-known troupes from across the state also showcase traditional performing arts like palla and daskathia that are woven around the tales of Lord Jagannath. Similarly, various private organisations hold cultural events where singers like Sailabhama, Arabinda Muduli and others render timeless bhajans.

The Rath Yatra Lokanrutya Mahotsav held last Wednesday, was very popular with the tourists for the wide variety of items it presented. Artistes from Ganjam, famous for their conch-blowing skills while displaying different formations, stole hearts of the visitors with their performance. Climbing on top of each other, they illustrated the dasavataras or 10 incarnations of Lord Vishnu, while continuing to blow the conch.

Masked dancers from Puri, chhou artistes, Sambalpuri folk dancers also cast their spell. The viewers were moved to see Mahari dance performed by Rupashree Mohapatra.

“The performances were unbelievable. I loved the conch-blowers as well as the beautiful Mahari dance in which the dancer was decked with flowers and conveyed her love to Lord Jagannath through expressive gestures,” said Angela Turner, an American tourist.

“We hold this festival to let the artistes show their devotion through what they do best, that is, their performance. We have been conducting this every year for the last 20 years,” said a member of the Bada Sankha Juba Sanskrutika Parishad, a local body of youngsters who organised the festival.