(Above) Members of Rupashree Kalamandir perform Mahari dance during the anniversary of Rupashree Kalamandir. (Below) Aruna Mohanty performs Odissi. Pictures by Sarat Patra

Bhubaneswar, May 25: Devotion and dance blended together to bring alive the tradition of Mahari on stage at the Srimandir Mahari Parampara dance concert held recently at Jaydev Bhawan. The more famous derivative of this temple dance form, Odissi, was also presented at the event.

A series of Mahari repertoire were presented at the event in different contexts. While Sita Kamala Kucha mandala he was performed by young and senior disciples of Rupashree Kala Mandir for Mangalacharan or invocation, a solo recital by noted Mahari dancer, Rupashree Mohapatra, depicted a janana or hymn.

Mohapatra expressed various services of a Mahari dancer towards Lord Jagannath in the recital. Ornamented with garlands from head to toe and dressed in the typical Mahari costume, Mohapatra captivated the audience with her performance.

A couple of group renditions portrayed Kunja Seba or floral services towards Lord Jagannath in performances, which had a spiritual touch and presented unity of the dancer and the Lord. Similarly, Mohapatra’s Chhanda on Dhire Radha Karadhari and Champu on Leelanadhi he laje moon were enchanting. She also performed a piece from the Gita Govinda.

“I chose a range of traditional pieces that have been pushed to the background over the years. Moreover, these items have beautiful traditional compositions by the Mahari dancers which have now been assimilated in Odissi and hence the viewers must get a chance to see the Mahari version of these,” said Mohapatra. Another attraction of the event was a group recital by Mohapatra’s disciples, which illustrated the journey of Orissa’s traditional dance form from Mahari to Odissi on the much loved song Bira desa go kali shyaama.

Prolific Odissi danseuse Aruna Mohanty stole the hearts of the audience through her vibrant abhinaya on Madhurashtakam that eulogised every feature of Lord Krishna. A Hansadhwani Pallavi and an abhinaya by Calcutta-based Odissi dancer Rina Jana were also appreciated by the viewers.

“Each recital had a unique feature and we were lucky to witness a wide range of themes performed in dance here,” said viewer Rupali Das.

Veteran dancer Priyambada Hejmadi Mohanty and Banamali Maharana, the doyen of Odissi percussion instrument mardala, were felicitated at the event while dancers Mohanty and Jena were given the Srimandir Mahari Parampara awards.

The event included a seminar in which professors from the Jagannath Culture University deliberated on various aspects of the traditions of the Puri Jagannath temple and their relation with the emergence of Odra, Mahari and Odissi dance forms. Organisers Rajkumar Jhunjhunwala and Basant Kumar Pati said the support of the audience and members of the culture fraternity were encouraging.