The International Odissi Dance Festival was inaugurated with grandeur at Rabindra Mandap, offering a vibrant celebration of Odisha’s rich cultural heritage through spellbinding performances. The five-day festival is being organised from December 26 to 30 by the Guru Kelucharan Odissi Research Centre in collaboration with the Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department.

Culture Minister Highlights Global Reach of Odissi

Culture Minister Shri Suryabanshi Suraj graced the inaugural evening as the Chief Guest. Addressing the gathering, he extended warm greetings and congratulations to Odissi dancers and artistes. The Minister said Odissi dance has played a pivotal role in taking Odisha’s art and cultural legacy to the global stage, earning international recognition for the state’s unique cultural identity.

Odissi’s Growing Academic and Global Recognition

Speaking on the occasion, Special Secretary of the Culture Department Shri Deba Prasad Dash said that Odias take immense pride in Odissi dance, which has secured a distinct place for Odisha internationally. He highlighted that institutions such as IIT Bhubaneswar have included Odissi dance in their B.Tech curriculum and that an Odissi Centre has also been established at Oxford University.

Mesmerising Performances Mark Inaugural Evening

The inaugural programme began with a traditional Mangala Charan performed by dancers of the Guru Kelucharan Mahapatra Odissi Research Centre. The highlight of the evening was a captivating Odissi recital by eminent dancer Guru Bishnutattva Das, who beautifully presented an Ashtapadi from Jayadeva’s Gita Govinda.

Solo Odissi performances were presented by Arpita Pani, Tulika Tripathy, Prashanti Jena and Prabhutosh Panda. Duet performances by Tanmay Samadar and Farzana Jasmine, as well as G. Sanjay and Diana Ghosh, drew special appreciation. A group Odissi performance by artistes of Sankalpa Foundation added further splendour to the evening.

Art Exhibition and Sand Art Add Visual Appeal

During the programme, the Culture Minister inaugurated an art exhibition titled “A Celebration of Art, Dance and Music”, showcasing paintings on Odissi dance created by renowned artists. He also appreciated the sand art installations inspired by Odissi dance displayed at the venue.

Youth Engagement and Cultural Stalls

A special attraction of this year’s festival is the “Mo Odissi” selfie stand, which has seen enthusiastic participation from the youth. Visitors can also explore handloom and handicraft stalls, along with millet-based food stalls, set up within the Rabindra Mandap परिसर.

Strong National and International Participation

Notably, around 350 dancers are participating in this year’s festival, including nearly 15 Odissi dancers from abroad. Artistes from Odisha, West Bengal, New Delhi, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Haryana, Karnataka and Chhattisgarh are performing, along with participants from countries such as the United States, France, Germany, Australia and Malaysia.

Dignitaries Present at Inaugural Ceremony

Ekamra MLA Shri Babu Singh, Deputy Director of the Culture Department Smt. Suchismita Mantri, and eminent Odissi exponents including Kumkum Mohanty, Dr. Aruna Mohanty, Smt. Sikata Das, Smt. Sujata Mohapatra, Smt. Meera Das, Dr. Snehaprabha Samantaray, Smt. Kasturi Patnaik, Shri Gajendra Panda and Shri Durga Charan Ranbir were present at the inaugural evening.

The festival will continue over the next four days, featuring diverse Odissi performances celebrating tradition, creativity and global cultural exchange.

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