The city will witness Mahari, a dance form that has continued in the Jagannath Temple, on Sunday. The Puri-based Ruprashree Kalamandir will organise its sixth edition of Shree Mandira Mahari Parampara at the Rabindra Mandap here.
Noted researcher Dr Subhas Pani, Odishi Guru Gobindo Chandra Pal, Odishi dancer Prof Naba Kishore Mishra will be conferred with Mahari award for the year 2015 which is named as Sashimani Devadasi award. “The festival is an attempt to keep the Mahari dance tradition alive and popularise it,” said Rupashree Kala Mandir secretary Rupashree Mohapatra.
“Mahari dance is one of the oldest temple dance forms in the country. Maharis have an important role in the Shree Jagannath culture, which is totally different from other Devadasi rituals. We have been trying to promote it," said president of Rupashree Kala Mandir, Dr Basant Kumar Pati.
This year, the festival is dedicated to last Mahari Devadasi ritual dancer Sashimani Devi, who died recently. The main feature of the festival would be the service of Maharis to lord Jagannath during Nabakalebar, informed Dr Pati.