India’s first such cultural event post lockdown, the Konark Dance Festival, was inaugurated in complete adherence to Covid-19 safety protocols at the Konark Sun Temple on Tuesday.
The inaugural performances at the 32nd edition of the festival exhibited the best of India’s ancient cultural art. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik declared the festival open through a virtual address.
The opening performance was a series of Odishi dances performed by a troupe of the Orissa Dance Academy under the guidance of guru Aruna Mohanty. The second set of performances in Bharatanatyam was by a troupe from Sridevi Nrithyalaya, Chennai, led by exponent Sheela Unnikrishnan.
The day also witnessed the inauguration of the International Sand Art Festival 2020 at the Chandrabhaga beach with 15 groups and 70 sand artists from Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and West Bengal besides Odisha.