Bhubaneswar, Nov. 28: Veteran singers came together to promote traditional Odia music and took part in a musical festival at Jayadev Bhavan today.

The festival hosted by Sevagram Foundation, a cultural group, was an effort to introduce various genres of Odia music among urban listeners.

The melodious Chhanda and Champu as well as devotional Janana compositions of ancient poets were staged one after another at the event. Prominent artistes such as Arati Mishra, Lata Ghosh, Dibakar Mohanty and many others reminded the youth and school kids of the glorious musical and literary history of Odisha by rendering songs dedicated to Lord Jagannath.

Arati Mishra and Bharat Chandra Behera perform at Jayadev Bhavan in Bhubaneswar. Pictures by Sanjib Mukherjee

“The Odia culture revolves around Lord Jagannath, and since the deity was found centuries ago, music and literature, that was a result of devotion towards him, also took birth in that era,” said Dibakar Mohanty. Mohanty regaled the young music lovers with Bandai shri baladeba rohini nandana that was filled with emotions of a mother’s love for her child.

The exponents, Lata Ghosh and Arati Mishra, also left the audience spellbound. While Ghosh crooned Jagabandhu pari jane samanta, Mishra presented songs such as Ahe niagiri tuma sribhuje and Chalo sakhi aame darasana kariba.

Similarly, Bharat Chandra Behera sang Kahinkire bayi mana while Lingaraj Singh rendered the famous classic Chakanayanaku patita kehi. Among other singers were Barsha Panda and Jeypore-based radio artiste Gupta Prasad.

Besides, information was provided on the lyricists and poets to make the audience aware of the profound poetry in Odia that is now almost forgotten.

“We had hosted some contests for school and college students regarding Odia poetry and music. The winners and contestants were awarded at the event. Since they were a part of the audience, we took the opportunity to educate them about Odisha’s traditional music and poetry,” said singer Bharat Chandra Behera, one of the organisers.

The singers had recited songs penned by ancient poets such as Jagannath Das, Balaram Das, Jasobanta Das, Achyutananda Das, Jeypore king Bikram Raja and Sishu Ananta.

Among major personalities present on the occasion was Padmashree awardee and littérateur Debi Prasanna Patnayak. He lauded the efforts of the singers to revive the Odia traditions in music.

An organiser said there would be frequent contests for school and college goers and they would host regular shows on the great poets’ works.

“We would also host the shows in various districts and give a chance to local young and old singers,” said Behera.