Dancer Bijayini Satpathy and (above) tabla exponent Nayan Ghosh perform on the eve of Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award Festival 2013 at Rabindra Mandap in Bhubaneswar. Pictures by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 6: Living up to its hype, the 19th Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award festival, started off on a perfect note on Thursday evening at Rabindra Mandap.

The event had a vibrant Odissi dance by Bijayini Satpathy and a breathtaking tabla recital by maestro Nayan Ghosh.

The auditorium was filled to its capacity during the inaugural evening.

Tributes were first paid to the doyen of Odissi music Pandit Raghunath Panigrahi, who passed away last month. Thus, the programme began with a minute of silent prayer in memory of the revered genius. The connoisseurs then witnessed an Odissi act by Bijayani Satpathy from the famous Nrutyagram, Bangalore. Her first item was Parvatipanchaka, an invocation to the female form of the divinity followed by a pure dance item Pallavi Rutubasanta. Other highlights of Satpathy’s repertoire were an abhinaya on Odia song Manasija Manamohana. Her final act was Sivasthaka depicting the glory of Lord Shiv.

Late Suramani Pandit Raghunath Panigrahi’s music was used for all these recitals.

Tabla exponent Nayan Ghosh was another much-awaited performer of the evening. His rhythmic fingers produced a fine blend of toda, tukda, tihai, chakradhar, paran in teen tal or 16 beats.

Veteran Hiranmay Mitra accompanied the Calcutta-based Ghosh on harmonium. The music lovers of the city were delighted to experience the remarkable performances.

“We wait for the festival every year since it brings us an opportunity to watch the best artistes of the country perform in our city,” Biplab, a young artiste.

Organiser Ratikant Mohapatra of Srjan, son of Odissi legend Kelucharan Mohapatra, said that the specific aim of the festival was to create awareness and to sustain the traditions of classical dance and music.

“The festival was launched by my father with the intention to promote young artistes and recognising and acknowledging the contribution of veteran artistes and those associated with different performing art forms. We are glad to be carrying on his legacy and also appreciate the affection of our audience,” said the Odissi guru.