The fifth edition of Odishi International, billed as the annual union of the global Odishi family in the land of Odishi, kicked off here on Thursday.
The weeklong event was inaugurated by Switzerland-based eminent Odishi dancer and Odia actress Padma Shri Minati Mishra, the oldest performing Odishi dancer of the world today. Guru Ratikant Mohapatra and Pandit Nityananda Mishra were also honourable guests of the evening. The highlight of the inaugural evening was a scintillating show by the dancers of city-based orphanage Adruta Home that won hearts. The other solo performers, the winners of the top ten talent awards of previous years, included the gifted Preetisha Mohapatra, granddaughter of legendary Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra.
Thirty dancers and one troupe performed during the evening. A large number of Odishi dancers from various countries are participating in this global gathering. The festival, which will showcase over 250 dancers and 16 troupes from 14 countries, is being hosted by 25-year-old cultural organisation Samskritiki in collaboration with various Odishi dance institutes of the world.
The countries being represented this year are Bangladesh, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Muscat, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, US, Ukraine and The Netherlands apart from India. A large number of young Odishi dancers from West Bengal, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, Delhi and host Odisha are also participating in the event.