Artistes perform during last edition of the Odissi Sangeet Mahotsav in Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar, March 21: Odissi musicians from all over the country are set to celebrate the spirit of the state’s classical music at an annual event that will begin tomorrow.

Around 500 Odissi artistes from Odisha and the neighbouring states of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bengal and Andhra Pradesh will perform at the 14th edition of the annual Odissi Sangeet Mahotsav that will be hosted at Jayadev Bhavan here.

The four-day festival is one-of-its-kind and it is being organised by the Sangeet Sudhakar Balakrushna Dash Foundation, named after the legendary singer-musician, and is being supported by the ministry of culture, Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, Calcutta, state department of tourism and culture and some corporate houses.

“Being a prominent classical music tradition and the one with ancient heritage, Odissi music deserves the celebration. However, lack of patronage and publicity has made the ‘classical’ tag elusive for our music form unlike Hindustani and Carnatic music traditions. We have been trying our best to get Odissi a national recognition and that is why Odissi musicians came together 15 years ago to launch this annual festival,” said festival director and prominent Odissi vocalist-composer Guru Ramahari Das.

The 500 artistes, from individuals to institutions, were sent open invitations to perform here. They will perform non-stop from 10am to 10pm at this major festival. Conceptualised as the annual union of all Odissi musicians from all parts of the world, this festival is unique, Das said.

“We were pleasantly surprised to discover existence of Odissi musicians in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, part of which were under Odisha once. Similarly, we came across Odissi singers from the neighbouring state of Chhattisgarh, who do not speak Odia language, but sing Odissi music. We are inviting such artistes to our festival,” said the festival director.

The festival showcases all genres of Odissi music that includes the Chhanda, Champua and Jaga Akhada Sangeet.

It also helps document various styles of singing and facilitates interactions among the fraternity, Das, a Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee, said.

Among the performing artistes would be the famous Shyamamani Devi, Arjun Charan Samal and established names such as Sangeeta Gosain, Mitali Chinara, Bharati Jena, Dhiraj Kumar Mohapatra, and Sangeeta Panda. Young vocalists such as Nazia Alam, Sur Sarita Rout, Sadashiba Pradhan and Rupak Parida also perform regularly at the festival.

All renowned artistes of the mardala — the percussion instrument for Odissi — will be seen on the stage at the Odissi Sangeet Mahotsav. These include the legendary Banamali Moharana, veterans Dhaneswar Swain, Sachidanand Das, Niranjan Patra and many more names of repute.

“We are glad that all artistes involve themselves in the management of the entire event. This makes it an event for, of and by Odissi musicians,” said Dhirendra Kumar Ray, president of the host Sangeet Sudhakar Balakrushna Das Foundation.