The third edition of Sisupalgarh Mahotsav kicked off at the Sisupalgarh Dussehra Ground on the outskirts of the city here on Friday.
The inaugural evening commenced with Mahari dance by artists of Rupashree Kala Mandira, Puri. In a contemporary style, the junior and senior students of Sarala Dance Group left the audience speechless. The following item was by Nityananda Das, the only one legged Odissi dancer in the world. He presented “Priya Sakha (dear friend)”.
He essayed his own story of how Krishna helps him to overcome the predicament of disability with amputation of a leg following an accident. The audience cheered the dancer with thundering applause. The other attractions of the evening were Chhau dance by Purullia Chhau Dance centre, laser show by a Bengaluru based company, Mallkhamb by Fate Fighters group,Puri and modern dance by the dancers of Kings Star, a Bhubaneswar-based dance institution. All the performances hooked the audience to their seats.
The inaugural evening also witnessed award giving ceremony. This year the Sisupalgarh Samman was conferred upon senior journalist Pradyumna Satpathy.
Among others, freedom fighter Bhabani Charan Pattanayak and former Minister Suresh Routray attended the festival as guests.