Curtains came down on the five-day annual Konark Festival here on Thursday with great enthusiasm and artistic fervour in a packed gallery.
The concluding evening witnessed the first rendition in Kathak style by disciples of renowned Kathak exponent Rani Karna. Parvati Pujan followed by Shiva Vandana brought about invocation to lord Shiva.
The next item was Chaar taal ki savari and drut teentaal and the choreography exhibited the bold beautiful and nimble movements of Kathak.
The following presentation Raas sanyog aringar was set as a lakshan Geet depicting various nuances of the Kathak tradition. Tarana, the indispensable item of the Kathak repertory expressed the purity of the form which was based on Raag Hindol.
The last item in the Kathak style was Chaturang, which marked the impeccable choreography of Guru Rani Karna.
The concluding performance was a dance drama titled Ekamra leela presented by Guru Kelucharan Odishi Research Centre, Bhubaneswar. It was adapted from Shivaleelamritam, a Sanskrit work by poet Agnichit Nityananda Pandit of the 18th Century and conceptualised by Guru Ramhari Das on the script of Pt Nityananda Mishra.
The music composition of Guru Swapneswar Charaborty coupled with the rhythmic composition of Guru Sachidananda Das made the presentation very emotive and appealing. The choreography was by Guru Muktilata Pal.
The valedictory evening also saw felicitation to the sand artists who took part in the International Sand Art festival on the beach of Chandrabhaga.