The Guru Gangadhara Pradhan Foundation in collaboration with the State Culture Department, the Guru Kelu Charan Mahapatra Odishi Research Centre and the Konark Natya Mandap celebrated the 68th Guru Gangadhara Pradhan Jayanti here on Sunday.
The evening started with Sitar Vadan by Pandit Ravi Shankar Pradhan and his son Budhaditya Pradhan. They played Raag ‘Puriya Dhanashree’ on Madhya laya and Taal ‘Teen’. Pradyumna Kishore Nayak accompanied them on tabla.
As a tribute to Odishi Guru Gangadhara Pradhan, foundation’s members performed a dance item, which was choreographed by Guruji himself. This was followed by Mangala Charan, performed by four female and three male dancers. They presented ‘Shiva Panchaka’. The dancers beautifully explained the expression of lord Shiva who adorned with earrings, trident and eyes burning like fire. The item was choreographed by Guru Gangadhara Pradhan. The music composition and dance direction were by Sangeeta Sudhakara Balakrushna Das and lingaraj Swain, respectively.
In abhinaya, six artists of the Guru Gangadhara Pradhan Foundation presented Krushnaya Tuvyam Namah. In the popular abhinaya, 10 incarnations of lord Vishnu like Matsya (fish), Kurma (tortoise), Baraha (boar), Narasimha (half lion and half man), Bamana (dwarf), Parshuram (a furious sage), Ram, Balaram, Budha and Kalki were showcased. The presentation was captivating drew a huge round of applause. Dr Subash Pani composed music lingaraj Pradhan directed the dance item.
It was followed by a dance item ‘Pallavi’ based on Raag ‘Rageshree’ and Taal ‘Ek Tali’. Guru Ramahari Das composed the music.
The concluding dance item of the evening was ‘Bandha Nrutya’, performed by the Gotipua dancers of the Konark Natya Mandap. They gave a scintillating performance.