Students perform at Raja Mahotsav in Cuttack. Pictures by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, June 16: The incessant rains have failed to dampen the spirit of Raja festivities as a large number of people gathered to witness rich cultural programmes, which are being staged at the ongoing 6th Raja Mahotsav organised by cultural institute Soor Mandir in the Millennium City.

A spectacular Odissi performance by the students of the institute was the centre of attraction on Wednesday, the second day of the festival.

Twelve children set the stage on fire with some breathtaking Odissi performances that were appreciated by the crowd.

The junior-most disciples of the institute started off the event with a mangalacharan, batu and pallavi styles of Odissi and showcased their talent by displaying the various abhinayas and mudras of hands in perfect synchronisation.

“It was a great feeling for me to perform before a large audience that also included my parents. It felt really good when they appreciated my performance,” said Akankhya Mohanty, a 10-year-old artiste of the group.

Besides the performance by the junior artistes of Soor Mandir, a creative dance by city-based Final Destination troupe from Cuttack and creative dance by Wahida Parveen Olive and group from Bangladesh were other added attractions on the occasion.

The most remarkable rendition was the Odissi dance drama by guru Bimbadhar Das, Bijay Das and Nityananda Das. Based on a true incident, the dance drama titled Guru Dakshina depicted the pain of dancer Nityananda Das who lost his right leg in a road accident and how his guru Bimbadhar Das helped him overcome the pain and continue to perform and teach Odissi despite this setback.

“I had lost one leg in a road accident on June 11, 2000. It was a challenge for me to overcome the loss and initially I felt depressed. But I was determined and wanted to perform till my death,” said guru Nityananda Das.

“I still remember the day when Nityananda came to me and asked me to teach Odissi after the road accident. He was my student for the past 25 years and the accident was a turning point in Nityananda’s life who himself had become a guru before the accident,” said guru Bimbadhar Das.

“I told him that the wind and water and life itself do not stop in any situation. So, he must go on and give his best efforts to overcome any challenges,” he said.

According to Nityananda, everybody should learn to be bold and face all challenges in life with a strong heart. It is the determination that makes a man to move ahead in life, he said recalling the past.

“I was almost in tears while I saw guru Nityananda performing Odissi which is a difficult dance despite his physical challenge. Moreover, Guru Bimbadhar Das was remarkable with his calm and serene expressions when he was reviving his disciple’s lost confidence,” said Sweta Sahu, a member of the audience.