Cuttack, May 10: Get ready to witness some of the finest Indian classical music along with other folk dances at the 26th annual national convention being organised by Spicmacay from May 23. It is for the first time that Spicmacay is going to organise the week-long educational-cum-entertainment extravaganza in Orissa. The entire event would be held at Ravenshaw University.
More than 1,500 delegates, including artistes of national and international repute, would attend the event that will be inaugurated by chief minsiter Naveen Patnaik, Union minister for sports and youth affairs Ajay Makan and other eminent personalities.
A preparatory meeting to chalk out strategies for the smooth conduct of the mega educational-cum-entertainment programme was held at the collector’s office here in the city today.
The meeting was attended by Cuttack district collector Kishore Mohanty, state higher education and tourism and culture minister Debi Prasad Mishra, officials of the district administration, city mayor Soumendra Ghose and vice-chancellor of Ravenshaw University Devdas Chhottray and other representatives.
“Spicmacay has been organising various concerts and conventions to inculcate traditional values among students. This time, the mega national convention is going to be held at Ravenshaw University and all possible assistance will be extended by the state government and district administration to make the event a grand success,” said higher education and tourism and culture minister Debi Prasad Mishra. Eminent artistes, including Bidushi Girija Devi, Pandit Birju Maharaj, Shayam Benegal, Nasiruddin Sami and others, will be performing at Ravenshaw University.
Odissi, Gotipua, Chhau and other traditional dance forms of the state besides Kathak and Bharatnatyam, would be other attractions during the programme.
“A seven-member delegation from Pakistan, besides other artistes from other parts of the country, would be performing at the national convention being held for the first time in Orissa,” said Human Development Foundation chairman and Spicmacay state coordinator Dhanada Kanta Mishra.
According to Mishra, it was an educational programme as students could learn more about Indian classicial music. From 4am, the students would get an opportunity to interact and participate in various workshops and round table conferences and enjoy other programmes.
Spicmacay has planned a budget of Rs 60lakh for the event.
Moreover, a series of six to seven programmes through the night on the concluding day would be a unique and spiritual experience for the students, Mishra added.
Similarly, a crafts village with stalls portraying various art forms including wood carving, creative weaving of Assam, grass crafts of Uttar Pradesh, plam leaf and pottery of Orissa, pat shilpa of Bengal would also be set up at the venue.
Besides the cultural extravaganza, two films — Making of the Mahatma by Shyam Benegal and Throne of Blood by Akura Kurusawa — would also be screened during the event.
