BERHAMPUR: Orissa Sangeet Natak Akademi celebrated the birth anniversary of the great Oriya poet Upendra Bhanja at Kulada village of Ganjam district on Friday night. Historians are yet to fix the birth date of this great poet and three celebrations are held in the State to mark his probable birthday.

Orissa Sangeet Natak Akademi continues to celebrate his birthday at his birthplace, Kulada since 1992 on the night preceding Vasant Purnima. At Bhanjanagar, the township established by the Bhanja dynasty of Upendra Bhnaja it is celebrated on Vasant Purnima. Kalinga Bharati, a famous literary organisation of the State celebrates his birthday in the third week of May every year.

Immense contribution

Creations of Bhanja are lifeblood of Odissi dance and music. Kulada village came alive with traditional cultural programme organised by the Orissa Sangeet Natak Akademi using poetic lyrics of Bhanja. President of the Akademi Guru Gangadhar Pradhan, who is better known as a doyen of Odissi dance, also attended the function.

Mr Pradhan said Bhanja literature would be alive till Odissi dance and culture continues to enthral audience throughout the world.

Literary experts like Arakhita Pradhan and Santanu Rath, station director of Berhampur radio station, termed Bhanja as a saviour of Oriya language and culture at the time of need as during British era writings of Bhanja had to be quoted before the British empire to prove Oriya was a separate language, which led to the establishment of Orissa state on linguistic basis.

Villagers of Kulada offered their respect to the great poet at the Narayan and Jagannath temples at the village, which were established by the Bhanja dynasty during the time of Upendra Bhanja. Every year thousands of visitors visit these temples at Kulada village to remember the great Oriya poet on the day of Vasant Purnima or Holi.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail