The Samikhsya Bureau
BHUBANESWAR: The 17th Dhauli-Kalinga Mahotsav hosted collectively by the Department of Tourism of Government of Odisha, Orissa Dance Academy and Art Vision kicked off on Saturday evening at the foothills of Dhauli here.
The first programme of the inaugural evening was Odissi by host Orissa Dance Academy that staged Dasavatara choreographed by Kolkata-based noted Odissi exponent Sharmila Biswas.
The second programme of the evening was Kathak by Upasana Centre for Dance from Kolkata led by Guru Ashimbandhu Bhattacharjee. He presented his choreography Pratibimba.
The concluding presentation of the evening was Mayurbhanj Chhau dance by Aangika troupe from Bhubaeswar led by Guru Sadashiva Pradhan.
The troupe staged Kapata Katha.
All the three concerts were group presentations.
The dignitaries who attended the inaugural ceremony included Pradeep Kumar Jena; Development Commissioner, Priyambada Mohanty Hejmadi, former Vice Chancellor, Sambalpur University and well-known Odissi dancer; Bishnupada Sethi, Principal Secretary, Odia Language, Literature & Culture; Vishal Kumar Dev, Principal Secretary, Tourism; Sachin Ramachandra Jadhav, Director, Tourism and Sridhar Patra, Chairman-cum-Managing Director of National Aluminum Company.
Guru Aruna Mohanty, Secretary, Orissa Dance Academy and Guru Ileana Citaristi, Secretary, Art Vision were also present.
The programme was anchored by Srinivas Ghatuari and Nazia Sayeed in Odia and English respectively.
The festival is being telecast live on DD-Bharati and apart from streaming on social media like Odisha Tourism Facebook, Twitter and Youtube pages.
