Bhubaneswar, Oct. 31: The Guru Debaprasad Das festival hosted by city-based Odissi dance institution Tridhara featured eminent dancers from across the country.

The festival concluded at Rabindra Mandap in the city last evening.

The three-day event was hosted to pay tribute to Odissi doyen Debaprasad Das by his disciple Gajendra Panda, the director of Tridhara, which was founded by Das for the propagation of Odissi.

The ninth edition of the festival included choreography as well as musical recitals and an award ceremony that took place on the final day.

Beginning with Odissi performances by budding artistes trained at Tridhara and another troupe trained by veteran danseuse Kumkum Mohanty, the event showcased Bharatnatyam and Kuchipudi by famous dancers.

On Thursday, legendary Bharatnatyam exponent Saroja Vaidyanathan captivated the audience with her immaculate movements even at the age of 78. She performed solo and enacted a composition based on a mythological story. The dance lovers of the city gave the Padma Bhushan recipient a standing ovation.

"From her postures to expressions, there was perfection in every aspect of her performance. She is a truly an inspiring artiste," said Smrutirekha Sahu, a member of the audience.

Kuchipudi exponent Ananda Shankar Jayant's performance was another highlight of the event. She too staged a solo recital and won the hearts of the viewers with her performance. The Padma Shri recipient presented a composition depicting the tale of Krishna.

The Guru Debaprasad Award was conferred upon Kumkum Mohanty, Saroja Vaidyanathan, Ananda Shankar Jayant and Rajendra Gangani on the last day of the festival.

"Das was extremely popular. He was a humble and legendary artiste. This festival is a medium to pay tribute to him through various art forms," said Panda.