Vibrant cultural fete
BIBHUTI MISHRA
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The third Bhubaneswar Mahotsava was a rich repast of Orissa's folk arts.
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FOLK FLAVOUR A traditional Orissa dance.
The third Bhubaneswar Mahotsava got off to a spectacular start with the Paika dance quickening the adrenalin. This festival designed to showcase the rich artistic heritage of Orissa focuses on the glorious folk arts tradition of the state that is now on the verge of extinction. Bhubaneswar-based Prerna has been organising this festival with strong initiatives of its president, academic and former legislator Dr. Dillip Srichandan. The rich variety of Orissa's folk dances got manifested through different dance forms.
It all began with Bonati fire play from Puri and was followed by Sambalpuri dance, Odissi dance and more. The rich repast of Orissa's folk arts was on display and artists from different places presented the programmes. Orissa's folk art forms reflect its rich cultural heritage. Even today Orissa lives in its villages and the spirit of rural Orissa is found in the rich variety of folk arts. But unfortunately while classical dance and even modern dance are given a lot of patronage, folk dance and music is given a royal ignore by the authorities.
Even organisations like Sangeet Natak Akademi and Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre are doing little for the preservation of Orissa's vibrant folk culture.
While many of the folk arts have become extinct and some are almost there , folk dances survive to this day, nourished and fostered by the rural people for whom it is not just a source of enjoyment but a manifestation of homogeneous community living. Most of these dances are related to some ceremony or other. Although they are associated with the vibrancy of rural lifestyle, they are individualistic in costume, music, gesture and movement too.
It is gratifying to observe that while government agencies are found wanting, a private body like Prerna has come forward to give the folk arts a platform in the state capital.
Spreading a message
In a separate event, the troupe of Song and Drama Division, Bhubaneswar, presented a ten-day cultural programme in Angul. The highlight of the programme was the play Asha spreading the message of National Rural Health Mission.
The increasing mortality rate of pregnant women and newborn babies is a problem that can only be tackled through awareness. The play tries to hammer in the message that health is the real wealth.
The play did strike a chord; but before the play Mita Patnaik and Bijoy Das rendered bhajans and modern songs. The artistes performing in the play were veteran actors like Manoj Patnaik, G.B. Guman Singh, Ananta Mishra, Soudamini Pati, Dharitri Khanduala and Subhasree Mishra who have distinguished themselves on stage as well as in Doordarshan and AIR. The play was written and directed by Manoj Patnaik.
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