The annual dance carnival Konark Festival kicked off on a traditional note at the open air auditorium here against the backdrop of the famous Sun Temple on Tuesday evening.
Dancers of the Srjan under the guidance of Guru Ratikanta Mohapatra presented a performance on Vande Mataram as a glowing tribute to the country.
This was followed by Yugmadwanda Pallavi, a pure dance performance based on Rag Bageshree and Ardhanarishwara which is based on the composition of Adi Guru Sankaracharya that described the iconography of the fusion of Shiva and Shakti. The last presentation in Odishi was Viswas interplaying Guruwari and Dohas of Saint Kabir.
The second presentation on the first evening was Manipur dance by artistes of the Jawaharlal Nehuru Manipur Dance Academy, Manipur. This was followed by Dhol Cholm, the drum dance usually found during the colourful festival of Holi. The last item in Manipur dance was Vasant Raas, illustrating lord Sri Krishna's love to Gopis.