The Pandit Kasinath Pujapanda Smruti Sansad organised a festival of dance and music at the Rabindra Mandap here on Thursday. Culture and Tourism Minister Maheswar Mohanty inaugurated the festival that showcased the life and works of Guru Kasinath Pujapanda, doyen of Odissi music, Seventy-five-year-old eminent singer Shyamamani Devi, who has been rendering her contributions in the field of Odissi music for six decades, was conferred with the Pandit Kasinath Pujapanda Smruti Samman. Besides, veteran sitarist Pandit Manilal Nag and eminent Odissi dancer Aruna Mohanty were also conferred with this award.
Minister Mohanty said such festivals would also be held in other parts of the State so that people in different urban pockets get a chance to enjoy these art forms. late Guru Kasinath
Pujapanda’s son Hadibandhu Pujapanda demanded that the Culture Department organise this festival every year in the memory of the guru.
Then, the evening’s musical extravaganza commenced with a soulful recital by Shyamamani Devi, followed by a mesmerising sitar recital by Pandit Manilal and his daughter Mita Nag.
The father-daughter duo presented Raag Vishnupur Gharana, a school of classical Indian music coming from the ancient dhrupad style of the Aalap, with Biplab Bhattacharya on tabla.
The last performance was a dance by Guru Aruna Mohanty, who performed two items, Varsha-Abhisara and Sunya Swrup composed by Guru Ramhari Das.
On behalf of the Smruti Sansad, convenor Hadibandhu Pujapanda, president Arjun Charan Samal, working president
Damodar Pradhani, vice-presidents Promoda Mishra and Siba Naryan Pattnaik, general secretary Satya Narayan Guru and joint secretaries Badri Mishra, Archana Archarya and Narayan Pujapanda were present.