Festival Celebrates Indo-Japan-Malaysia Friendship

Bhubaneswar, October 24, 2025 – The 19th Guru Debaprasad Award Festival 2025, themed “Festival of Indo-Japan-Malaysia Friendship,” was inaugurated at Rabindra Mandap, Bhubaneswar. Organized by Tridhara, a pioneer institution dedicated to preserving the unique style of Guru Debaprasad Das, the festival aims to honor legendary gurus and young artists in the fields of dance and music, while promoting Odissi as a gharana rooted in tribal and folk traditions. The festival continues on October 25, 2025, from 6 PM onwards at the same venue.

Odissi and Kuchipudi Captivate Audience

The inaugural evening opened with a group Odissi dance performance, Durga Tandava, by Chisato Miura and the Nagoya Chapter of Tridhara, Japan. Set to Raga-Tripata and Tala-Ektali, the music was composed by Pandit Laxmikanta Palit, rhythm arranged by Guru Dhaneswar Swain, and choreography by Guru Dr. Gajendra Kumar Panda.

This was followed by a solo Kuchipudi performance by acclaimed Japanese exponent Riko Kojima. She presented Krishna Shabdam, based on Taal-Aditala and Raga-Mohana, choreographed by Guru Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam. Both performances mesmerized the audience with their precision, expression, and cultural depth.

Lifetime Achievement Awards Honouring Legends

The festival also presented the Guru Debaprasad Lifetime Achievement Award 2025 to eminent personalities for their lifelong contributions: Guru Laxmidhar Raula (Rama Leela), Pandit Laxmikanta Palit (Odissi Music), Guru Dhaneswar Swain (Odissi Mardala), and Shri V. V. Ramani (Art Criticism). Following the awards, the book Sakhi Nata ru Odissi, authored by Guru Dr. Gajendra Kumar Panda, was unveiled by the distinguished guests.

Final Performance and Artistic Excellence

The evening concluded with a group Odissi dance, Mahavir Hanuman, performed by Tridhara’s Bhubaneswar artists. Every movement and gesture was meticulously analyzed for emotional expression, rhythm, and footwork to enhance the elegance and meaning of the performance. The dance was composed and directed by Guru Dr. Gajendra Kumar Panda, with music by Pandit Laxmikanta Palit, rhythm by Guru Dhaneswar Swain, and script by Pandit Nityananda Mishra.

Dignitaries Grace the Occasion

The event was attended by several distinguished personalities, including Shri Prithviraj Harichandan, Hon’ble Minister of Law, Works & Excise, Odisha; Shri Samir Mohanty, Odisha Olympics Association President & Former State BJP President; Shri Surath Biswal, State President BJP OBC Morcha; Shri P.M. Nayar, IPS Officer and Director General of Civil Defense; Shri Suresh Chandra Panda, Former CEO Prasar Bharati; Shri Chandrasekhar Hota, Secretary, Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi; and Tridhara leaders including Simanchala Panda and Guru Dr. Gajendra Kumar Panda. The programme was anchored by Shri Punya Darshan Sahu.

The festival was widely appreciated by the audience for its blend of tradition, artistry, and cross-cultural celebration.

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