Dancing against the majestic backdrop of the Sun Temple in Konark would be a dream come true for any classical dancer. The temple, which is adorned with beautiful sculptures, played host to some of the country’s leading classical dancers at the Konark Festival 2011.
The five-day dance festival, which began on December 1, was marked by a grand confluence of India’s top classical dancers, providing a rare opportunity to culture lovers and tourists to immerse in the trance of dance and music.
On the inaugural evening, the Open Air Auditorium in front of the Sun Temple came alive with the rhythm of ghungoroos of dancers. Odissi dancer Sharmila Biswas and her troupe from Kolkata mesmerised the audience with their magical movements.
A disciple of legendary Kelucharan Mohapatra, Sharmila, after invoking Lord Ganesh, presented Gativilas, Katha Surpanakha and Murchhana.
Gativilas saw the danseuse describing the attributes of an ideal performer while in Kathasurpanakha, she portrayed emotions that exist together in a person.
Odissi was followed by Kathak by Guru Aditi Mangaldas and troupe from New Delhi. Trained under Birju Maharaj and KumudinI Lakhia, the leading dancer in traditional and contemporary idioms, exhibited the sublime sense and essence of the dance through presentation of Uncharted Seas.
The second evening saw Guru Pitambar Biswal of Bhubaneswar and Guru Sashadhar Acharya demonstrating the subtleties of Odissi and Chhau.
Guru Biswal, through his presentation Dhara Sri Radha, depicted the beautiful romantic appearance with the ecstatic and exciting thrill of the Gopanganas ready to get into the abhisar kunja. The Chhau maestro’s flawless presentation of “Jatra Ghat,” “Radha Krishna,” “Ratri,” “Yodha” and “Chandrabhaga” left the audience spellbound.
It was the turn of Guru Jaikishore Mosalikanti and his troupe of Chennai and Guru Ramli Ibrahim of Malaysia on the third evening. They enthralled the viewers with Kuchipudi and Odissi, respectively.
After invocation Ganesh, Guru Jaikishore unfolded the unique repertoire of Kuchipudi through his Tarangam, Thillana and Aarathi. Ramli Ibrahim, who has been a foremost part of the cultural bridge between India and Malaysia, unleashed powerful images from the Saivite and Tantric traditions through his presentation “Vision Forever.”
The captivating performances by Guru Ratikant Mohapatra, son of renowned Odissi exponent Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, and Mohiattam dancer Guru Neena Prasad cast its magic spell on the viewers on the fourth evening.
Guru Ratikant and members of Srjan group, through fabulous portrayal of the characters of Krishna and Arjun in the battlefield of Kurukshetra in the Mahabharat, illustrated the gospel of truth and a philosophy of mortal living and path to salvation.
Guru Neena Prasad, with a rare combination of beauty and brain, presented Anantha Padmanabham Asraye. A tribute to Lord Anantha Padmanabha Swami who resides in Thiruvananthapuram, the dance had elements of Lasya and Tandav to charm the gathering.
On the concluding day, Bharatnatyam Guru Leela Samson of Chennai rendered Nandichol, Varnam, Kalinaganarthanam and Keerthanam. She described the divine qualities of the Supreme with her imaginative mime and gestures. The final show came for students of Bhubaneswar based Guru Kelucharan Odissi Research Centre. They presented the most significant element of Indian music through “Tala Tatwa.”
Tala is not only the soul of music but an essential part which creates a complete balance and symmetry in the vibrations or movements, producing a resonance in our emotional being, — the dancers tried to prove this through their affable and warm facial expressions and gracious twists and twirls.
Governor M.C. Bhandare, who graced the closing ceremony, summed up the festival “as the most beautiful cultural show performed in the country.”
“We are happy that the Konark Festival-2011 was witnessed by hundreds of viewers, including large number of domestic and foreign tourists. The state government took all possible steps to see that the event was successfully organised,” said state culture and tourism secretary Ashok Kumar Tripathy.