The Sambalpuri dance was much enjoyed by the dance lovers of the city as it was performed on the fifth day of Odisha Mahotsava. On Sunday, Alok Panda a renowned folk dancer along with his troupe performed the Sambalpuri dance. later, the poets meet was also organised on Sunday at Bharat Bhavan. The Sambalpuri dance is usually connected with the function or a deity. It is a colourful folk dance where the dancers enjoy the music and the footsteps and the audience take the full pleasure of the moves and the rhythms.
They started off with the ‘Karma’ dance form. It is the most colourful dance of the district. It is mainly a tribal dance in honour of ‘Karam Sani’, the deity who grants children, as they believe. Non-tribal people also participate in this ritual dance and songs. In the beginning, the dancers enter the dancing arena in two rows. The drummers and the singers accompany with rhythmic steps.
Then, Dalkhai was performed. It is a ritual folk dance. Songs sung on this occasion are known as Dalkhai songs. Young girls of Binjhals, Soura and Mirdha tribes perform this dance during Dusserah, Bhaijuntia and other festive occasions. However, non tribal people also participate in this ritual dance and songs without hesitation, which is an indicator of the tribal and non-tribal interaction in Kosal. The young girls stand in a line or in a semicircular pattern while dancing.
The audience enjoyed the dance whole-heartedly as the dancer too performed the dance beautifully. later, poets meet was held. Poets like Sitakant Mahapatra, Harprasad Das, Devdas Ghotrai, Rajendra Kishore Panda, Mmta Das and Parmita Satpayi read out their creations before the literature lovers. The creations were much appreciated by the audience.