Students of Ginwa perform the dance drama Shakuntala at Rabindra Mandap in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, April 8: A kaleidoscopic event of music and dance was showcased at Rabindra Mandap yesterday evening. A wide range of dance compositions were presented by young artistes at the 13th edition of the annual event organised by the Ginwa cultural group.

The festival began with a music medley Bande Utkal Janani — a melodious collage of different patriotic songs. A group of young artistes rendered the songs. Paying homage to Kelucharan Mohapatra on his death anniversary (April 7), a recital Pushpanjali was dedicated to all gurus.

Stalwarts of music Raghunath Panigrahi and Damodar Hota, the senior-most Odissi exponents in the state, were felicitated at the event.

“Ever since Kelu babu left for the heavenly abode, there has been a vacuum in the field of Odissi. His presence had inspired hundreds of Odissi lovers,” said Panigrahi. “He was a brilliant percussionist and we shared a strong bonding,” said the eminent musician.

Hota too said he missed the luminary. “Kelucharan Mohapatra will remain an icon not only of Odissi dance but of the field of art and culture on the whole. He has created such a strong foundation for Odissi dance and music that young forerunners are carrying it forward even today,” he said.

Various genres of Odissi were presented. Artistes performed a Mangalacharan on the Jagannath shloka ‘Kadachita Kalindi’. This was followed by an impressive ‘sthayi’ sequence performed by a group of children who are learning Odissi at Ginwa.

A Pallavi was presented by another group. The Shudha Nritya piece based on Raga Basanta explored interesting formations and utilised the stage space beautifully. An abhinaya — Srita Kamala Kucha Mandala — was performed by young artistes while children sang a folk song.

The highlight of the show was Shakuntala, a dance drama, the music to which was composed by Laxmikanta Palit. The drama is based on King Dushyanta and Shakuntala’s touching tale of love and despair.