Artistes perform at the 2010 Konark Dance and Music Festival. Pictures by Aswinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Feb. 17: The 26th edition of the renowned Konark Dance and Music Festival is all set to regale aficionados of classical and folk music and dance.

The festival that is dedicated to its founder, the legendary Odissi dance and mardal maestro, Guru Gangadhar Pradhan, will feature some of the most prolific performers of the country, including sarod exponent Padma Vibhushan Ustad Amjad Ali Khan.

The sarod player will be presented with the first Guru Gangadhar Pradhan Award during the festival.

Started in 1986, the festival organised by guru Pradhan’s Konark Natya Mandap, is held from February 19 to 23 every year.

One of the foremost national festivals of dance and music, the Konark Dance and Music Festival is known for featuring eminent artistes of national and international fame.

Celebrating the silver jubilee edition, the likes of Carnatic musician Padma Vibhushan M. Balamuralikrishna and Grammy winner Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt performed at the Natya Mandap in Konark last year.

However, the sudden demise of guru Pradhan in October last has turned this year’s event into a tribute for him since he was the pioneer of many dance festivals and dance institutes in the state.

“The aim behind the festival started by my father was to create a cultural identity of Orissa in the world,” says son Sibashis Pradhan, secretary of the Konark Natya Mandap, who is organising the festival this year.

“It was good to see members of the dance and music fraternity of the country coming forward to participate in the festival this year to show their reverence towards my father,” he adds.

The five-day festival will begin with the recital by renowned sarod player Ustad Amjad Ali Khan on Saturday followed by group dance performances by troupes from Andhra Pradesh and Sambalpur.

The following days will see the performance of well-known Carnatic violinist T. N. Krishnan, group Odissi and Gotipua dance by artistes of Konark Natya Mandap, Bihu dance by a troupe from Assam, tabla by Pandit Vijaya Ghate, Kathak by Nadam, Bangalore, Odissi vocal by guru Binod Bihari Panda, Purulia Chhow and flute recital by Pandit Ronu Majumdar.

“Music maestro M. Balamuralikrishna will be present this year also as a special guest,” says Sibashis.

Among other attractions at the festival will be Sahitya Utsav — a literary programme by eminent poets and litterateurs of the state and a handicraft exhibition of artefacts produced by craftsmen of Konark and nearby Raghurajpur.

Prominent Odissi dancerMinati Mishra will be presented the Sanjukta Birala Award for her lifetime contribution towards the dance form.