The three-day 21st edition of the Guru Pankaj Utsav organised by the Guru Pankaj Charan Odishi Research Foundation in association with the State Culture Department and the Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Odishi Research Centre, concluded at the Rabindra Mandap here on Thursday.
Eminent Odishi danseuse, scholar and researcher Kasturi Patnaik was felicitated with the prestigious Mahari Award 2015 instituted by Pankaj Charan Das, who is also regarded as the Adi Guru of Odishi dance.
After her felicitation, Kasturi performed a dance based on Guru Stotram ‘Akhand-Mandalakaram Vyaptam Yena Characharam…, the composition dedicated to Guru Pankaj Charan Das. She also presented another Abhinaya, which was based on Ashtapadi from Geeta Govinda.
The evening also witnessed ‘Rasapanchaka,’ by Shaswat Joshi, ‘Saveri Pallavi’ by Vrinda Chadha and ‘Glani Sanhara’ by the group ‘Samprada.’ The three days of the festival featured many noted and eminent Odishi dancers.
On the inaugural day, the performance of Malaysia-based artist Sandhya Manoj highly mesmerised the audience. She presented Abhinayas ‘Aaravi Pallavi’ and ‘Jhen Pallavi.’ In the same evening, Pune-based dancer Shamma Adhikari presented ‘Nata Pasara’.
Among others, Agartala-based dancer Sarbani Nandi, Mitra Purkayastha from the USA and Bhubaneswar-based Pabitra Pradhan also performed during the event.