Dedicated to keep the tradition of Mahari dance alive, the Puri-based Ruprashree Kalamandir conferred the Mahari awards for the year 2013 at the 4th Shri Mandira Mahari Parampara held at the Rabindra Mandap here on Friday.
Noted Odissi danseuse Minati Mishra was felicitated with the Devadasi Harapriya Samman and Professor Malabika Ray was honoured with the Sisimani Devdasi Samman under the lifetime achievement category. Guru Manoranjan Pradhan and Guru Minati Pradhan were also felicitated for their contributions to the dance form.
The event revived the age-old vintage tradition with staging of Odissi and Mahari dance performances in their pure classical form ‘Nritta’ by eminent Mahari danseuse Rupashree Mohapatra, Odissi Guru Manoranjan Pradhan and Guru Minati Pradhan.
Espoused as a special service dedicated to lord Jagannath, Mahari is a ritualistic dance performance by the Devadasis of lord Jagannath. Confined to the temple rituals for centuries, this pristine dance form has become obsolete with the abolition of the Devdasi system.
“We are keen to revive the age-old tradition of Mahaari and Odissi dance and music of the Shree Jagannath Temple that has been neglected since long. The festival is an attempt to keep the dance form alive, and we need support from the Culture Department to achieve this,” said Rupashree Kala Mandir secretary Rupashree Mohapatra.
State Culture Director Susil Kumar Das, State Tourism Director Harisankar Upadhyay along with Rupashree Kala Mandir president Basant Kumar Pati were present on the occasion.