BHUBANESWAR: The stage is set for the seven-day national cultural festival - Baisakhi Utsav - on Jayadev Bhawan premises here from April 15. Being hosted for the past 32 years by the cultural outfit Chinta-O-Chetana, founded by former chief minister late Hare Krushna Mahatab, the event is being supported by the State Government and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). Briefing the media on Tuesday, festival coordinators Surendra Das, Ratikant Mohapatra and former chief secretary Sahadev Sahoo said over 150 artistes from around eight states were slated to participate in the cultural extravaganza that features classical, folk and contemporary performing art traditions of the country. It includes Odissi, Kuchipudi, Kathak, Bharatnatyam, Manipuri, Sambalpuri, Gotipua, Ranapa and Dandanrutya apart from a wide variety of folk dances of other regions. “Our thrust is to bring together artistes of all streams on a common platform to show the diverse cultural traditions of this country,” added festival director Ratikant Mohapatra. While Governor M C Bhandare will inaugurate the event, his counterparts from Nagaland, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh are scheduled to attend it. This year, the festival directors have decided to confer the Neelachakra Samman on Nagaland Governor Nikhil Kumar. Every evening of the event will begin with recreation of the ‘Pahandi Bije’ scene of Lord Jagannath in Puri. The idol of the Lord will be taken in a procession to the stage while artistes will play different folk instruments. The event will feature solo performances by eminent dancers, group performances and conclude with staging of one popular folk art form on all days. Mohapatra said besides solo performances by Sujata Mohapatra, Aruna Mohanty, Meera Das, Illeana Citaristi, the festival will feature folk art forms like Ghumura, Daskathia, Ghoda Nacha, Pala and Ghanta Nrutya. There will be a special ‘Sugam Sangeet’ show on April 20 where eminent singers of the State will perform. “There is no need to divide culture as classical, contemporary or popular while hosting a festival. The audience must watch and appreciate the kaleidoscopic Indian culture. We must have equal respect for all art traditions and this is the aim of the festival,” said festival organiser Surendra Das, who has been instrumental in hosting this cultural extravaganza for many years now.
Comments
0 comment