Other States - Orissa   

Stage set for Barabati dance fest

CUTTACK: The famous “Barabati Nrutyotsav” which has got a national status, got off to a colourful start here on an open stage in front of the majestic Barabati Fort here on Friday evening.

The ninth edition of the festival organised by city-based Odishi Nrutya Mandal would continue till December 29, said the secretary of the Nrutya Mandal Guru Ashis Das.

On the inaugural evening named aptly ‘Kabi Chandra Kali Charan Pattnaik’ evening, dance troupes from Srjan, Bhubaneswar and host Odishi Nrutya Mandal, Cuttack warmed up the wintry evening on Friday with their scintillating performances.

Inaugurating the six-day long festival, State Culture Minister Devi Prasad Mishra said any cultural festival organised in Cuttack instantly gets wide acclamation and approval of the culture loving people of the State. “Cuttack, the cultural capital of the State not only heralds the rich tradition of the entire State but is the forerunner of all cultural movements the State has witnessed since time immemorial”, the Minister said.

Among others who spoke on the inaugural evening include Minister Pratap Jena, MLA Pravat Tripathy, Mayor S. K. Ghosh and President of the host organisation Malavika Ray. Presided over by former MP Brahmananda Panda, secretary of the host organisation read out the annual report on the inaugural function.

The organisation has dedicated each evening of the festival to eminent and illustrious cultural ambassadors of the State who during their lifetime worked tirelessly to highlight Orissa culture to outsiders. While the inaugural evening was dedicated in the name of Kabi Chandra, others to be remembered with reverence include dance exponent Dhirendranath Pattanaik, versatile Oriya singer and music composer Akshaya Mohanty, Odisshi Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra and Sanjukta Panigrahi.

Nearly 20 troupes comprising around 300 artistes from Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Dehradun and Mysore would perform in the festival that is also supported by EZCC, Kolkata and government of Orissa.

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

Stories in this Section

Badminton player’s triumphs over disability
Stage set for Barabati dance fest
Traders organisation celebrates centenary
CAMPA fund utilisation may not be achieved
Tight security for PM’s visit
Four naxals nabbed
BJD celebrates Foundation Day
Bahinipati quits BJP, returns to Congress
Villagers, CPI(M) hold demonstration against mining
Former MLA’s murderer sentenced to life
BJP activists stage protest

Copyright © 2009, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu