Other States - Orissa   

Stage set for festival of dance and music

BHUBANESWAR: The stage is set for the inauguration of the three-day Konark national festival of dance and music at the specially-designed Konark Natya Mandap open-air auditorium in Konark on Tuesday. Being hosted by the well-known Odissi exponent and this year’s Padma Shri awardee Gangadhar Pradhan for the past 22 years, it is the oldest festival of its kind in the State.

“Long before the Orissa Government planned the annual classical dance festival in Konark, I launched this annual festival of dance and music to create the much needed platform for the artistes - classical, folk and tribal, and to make the common people aware to appreciate and patronize our rich cultural tradition.

The Sun Temple of Konark stands for celebration of the excellence and pride of the artistes and it was my dream to celebrate the creativity of our artiste community through this annual festival,” elaborated the founder of the Orissa Dance Academy and the Konark Natya Mandap, who has been an institution in himself.

Over the years, connoisseurs from distant places and the common people have attended this annual event with equal enthusiasm, he noted.

The inaugural evening would kick off with a specially choreographed number for the occasion “Panchadeva Stutee" by the dancers of the host organisation that would be followed by “Konark Kantee”, an apt homage to the Konark temple through Odissi dance.

The next segments would be solo tabla recital by Mallar Ghosh of Kolkata while Mumbai-based Bharat Natyam dancer Sandhya Punecha would present group performances.

The evening’s show would end with the highly acrobatic Gotipua dance by the troupe of the Konark Natya Mandap.

As part of the festival that is supported by the State Government and the Eastern Zonal Cultural Cenre of Kolkata, a two-day literary meet would also be underway in Konark on Wednesday and Thursday.

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

Stories in this Section

Girl alleges police harassment
Thousands take part in funeral procession
Minister in trouble again
Geologists for use of GPS to track naxals
Slain policemen given tearful farewell
End to gram rakshis’ woes in sight
House surgeons block highway
Human rights panel to probe into police ‘excesses’
Naxal attack: injured persons recovering
Hariharan coming
Tearful farewell
Efforts on to revive tennis in Berhampur
BBF literary awards announced
Stage set for festival of dance and music
Azadi Express defaced by graffiti
India Bike Ride team reaches Koraput
Dhimsa dance festival inaugurated

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu