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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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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