File picture of chhau dancers, who will perform at the cultural fest in Mayurbhanj

Bhubaneswar, Jan. 8: Art lovers are set to have a gala time with Odissi Music Festival already under way and Mayurbhanj Utsav scheduled to start from Friday.

The annual Odissi festival hosted by the Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Odissi Research Centre began on Thursday evening at Rabindra Mandap. The three-day fest is organised by the Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Centre in association with the state’s culture and tourism department.

The event has been held every year since 2012 with an aim to bring Odissi music from across the country on a single platform and assess the artistes’ performances from different perspectives such as style, technique and music used in this genre, said Guru Keshab Chandra Rout, renowned Odissi vocalist and musician.

“This festival also helps artistes enrich their style. Moreover, this event infuses a spirit of cultural amity and gives opportunity to the connoisseurs not only from Bhubaneswar but from outside the state and the country to experience the beauty and grace of the state’s classical music form,” said Naba Kishore Mishra, renowned Odissi dancer and chief executive of the centre.

Young talents are also given a chance to perform alongside veterans and legendary vocalists.

Group performances at the festival this year will include young artistes of Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalya, Utkal University of Culture and Kala Vikash Kendra.

Solo recitals will be presented by a few renowned artistes such as Arati Mishra, Shyamamani Devi, Lata Ghosh, Shantilata Chhotray and Arjun Charan Samal. Instrumental sessions will also be a highlight of the festival.

Once this fest is over, art connoisseurs can attend the Mayurbhanj Utsav, which will be hosted at the Bhasha Pratisthan auditorium from January 9 to 11. Known for its lavish decoration, the cultural extravaganza will have the Jubilee library of Baripada as the backdrop of the stage. Like every year film artistes and dance groups will perform at the event.

Food as always will be an added attraction at the festival. Over 10 stalls will offer various delicacies of the district, including the much-loved Baripada mudhi mansa. A craft fair with 20 kiosks will bring the tribal art and crafts of Mayurbhanj to the capital city at the Utsav.

State sports minister Sudam Marandi, the chairman of the organising committee, said the festival was aimed at promoting Mayurbhanj as a tourist spot and providing the local artistes a platform to showcase their skills.