Mysuru – Orissa Association Mysore (OAM) will be celebrating Utkal Divas or Odisha Day at Kalamandira on Hunsur Road in city on Apr. 8 by holding an Odissi Dance repertoire from 6.30 pm to 9 pm.

Internationally-acclaimed artistes from Gunjan Dance Academy, Cuttack, Odisha, will present Odissi dances on the occasion.

Dr. C.G. Betsurmath, Executive Secretary, JSS Mahavidyapeetha and Dr. M.S. Krishnamurthy, former Chairman, Department of Ancient History and Archaeology, University of Mysore, will be the chief guests.

About Gunjan Dance Academy, Odisha

Established in the year 1995, Gunjan Dance Academy is committed to the classical and traditional art heritage of Odisha under the able tutelage of Guru Meera Das, a disciple of legendary Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra and Guru Gangadhar Pradhan. She is a dancer of international repute and choreographer of impeccable perfection. Artistes from Gunjan have been performing around the globe and thus it has become an organisation of excellence.

Odissi is an ancient and breathtakingly beautiful form of sacred dance, which was originally developed in the temple             of Lord Jagannath in Orissa as   a form of worship and meditation. This supremely elegant style of dance is a visual        delight. The   rhythm, the bhangis (dance postures) and the mudras (hand formations) used in Odissi have a distinctive quality of their own.

The essence of Odissi lies in its statuette quality; most of its beautiful poses bear close resemblance with the sculptures of the famous temples in Odisha. The two main postures in Odissi are Tribhangi and Chauka. The journey starts with basic exercises and steps in Tribhangi and Chauka. These steps form the basis of all choreography in Odissi. It demands tremendous physical fitness and regular practice with emphasis on sensitive facial expression in abhinaya.

Themes of Odissi are almost exclusively religious in nature. It is largely based on the timeless Sanskrit epic, Geeta Govinda written by the famous Odia poet Jayadev and deals with love themes of Radha-Krishna and the philosophy of its most popular deity Lord Jagannath.

About the Dancers

Lopamudra Jena is now one of the leading Odissi dancers under the tutelage of Guru Meera Das. She has enthralled the audience by her elegant and graceful presentations at several international and national festivals. She is a recipient of the Ekalavya Samman in the year 2016.

Malabika Jena, a performing artiste of Gunjan Dance Academy, is practicing Odissi since 1988. She started learning dance at the tender age of 6 from the famous Kalavikas Kendra, Cuttack, before joining Gunjan. Malabika has performed Odissi in many cities across India and abroad.

M.D. Preethi, the premier student of Odissi Dance Academy, Mysore, who is presently managing the school, has prepared four of her students to perform during the festival.         

Utkal Divas dance items

1. Mangalacharana is the first step in Odissi classical dance where the dancers pay their salutations to the Almighty Lord Jagannath, who protects us from all vices. Rhythm by Guru Sachidananda Das. Raga – Megh, Tala – Ektali.
2. Desh Pallavi is the lyrical elaboration based on a particular raga and tala to create a graceful communication of beautiful exposition. The dancers perform with intricate hand, body and leg gestures to lyrical tunes and rhythms. Rhythm by Guru Sachidananda Das. Raga – Desh, Tala – Rupak.
3. Namami: Through this dance and accompanying music, the dancers offer salutation to Vighnaraja Ganesha, who resides where the Kalpavriksha, the boon giving tree exists. Dance by students of Odissi Dance Academy Mysore. Choreography by Guru  Kelucharan Mohapatra. Music by Pandit Bhubaneswar Mishra. Raga – Baradi, Tala- Eltali.
4. Jaya Sankha Gadadhara is a beautiful disposition of surrender to Lord Vishnu in which the dancers depict the various wonders of Sri Krishna – be it kaliya dalana or the divine of Meera   – the lotus-eyed Lord spreads His charm and we humans bow down to His glory. Music by Pandit Maheswar Rao.  Raga – Jog, Tala – Ektali.
5. Bande Mataram, as the song suggests, is the praise of our motherland, our mother earth who has bestowed us with flora and fauna, the fresh waters and pure air – it is a salutation to Maa for all the divine love and blessings she has showered on us. Music by Lt. Sumanta Kumar Mohanty. Tala – Ektali.
6. Birachita Chatu Vachana is one of the astapadis from Jayadeva’s Geeta Govinda, which very intricately depicts the loving way of a sakhi to convince Radha for a dalliance with Lord Krishna. Music by Dr. Subash Pani. Raga – Bihag, Tala – Ektali.
7. Santimantra (Mokhya) is the concluding part of the Odissi Dance repertoire, which is the divine surrender to the Lord  to attain salvation.

All dance-lovers may attend the programme in large numbers. Admission is free and no passes are requi- red, according to a press release from Dilip K. Misra, President of OAM. For details contact Misra on  Mob: 9448354400.