7th Barnali Festival: The 7th edition of the two-day-long Barnali Festival concluded on a grand note at Utkal Rangamanch in Bhubaneswar on Friday. Organized by Rudrakshya Foundation, one of the premier Odissi dance institutions of the state, the festival was dedicated to Christopher Charles Benninger, a renowned architect, educator, and urbanist who was a guiding force behind the Foundation until his passing in 2024.
The festival commenced with the lighting of the auspicious lamp, graced by eminent Odissi vocalist and musicologist Guru Ramahari Das and Ramprasad Akkisetti, co-founder of Christopher Charles Benninger Architects (CCBT) and president of Rudrakshya Foundation. In his address, Guru Das lauded Guru Bichitrananda Swain for his choreographic excellence, while Akkisetti emphasized the importance of preserving the rich tradition of art and culture. He also announced that CCBA Designs is designing a new campus for Rudrakshya Academy pro bono, which will include performance, practice, and housing spaces for dancers, much like a traditional gurukul.
Spellbinding Performances Enthrall Audience
The cultural evening commenced with a solo Odissi dance recital by Smt Lipsa Satapathy. Trained under eminent gurus like Gangadhar Pradhan, Aruna Mohanty, and Bichitrananda Swain, Satapathy presented a Pushpanjali to Lord Jagannath, followed by ‘Dheera Sameere,’ an Ashtapadi from Jayadeva’s Gita Govinda. Her depiction of Radha’s anguish and Krishna’s despair, choreographed by Guru Swain with original music by Pandit Raghunath Panigrahi and compositions by Guru Ramahari Das, Guru Bijay Kumar Jena, and Guru Dhaneswar Swain, mesmerized the audience.
Following this, Bharatnatyam dancers Samrat Dutta and Santanu Roy from Kolkata presented ‘Dasamahavidya,’ choreographed by Dutta, with Sanskrit research by Samipeshu Das and Debopam Das. Set to Raga Dasa Raga Malika and Tala Tala Malika, the piece portrayed the spiritual journey of human life through the ten forms of the Goddess. The duo’s impeccable Araimandi, precise footwork, and expressive movements captivated the audience, earning thunderous applause.
‘Samudra Manthan’ Leaves a Lasting Impact
The highlight of the evening was the group Odissi presentation, Samudra Manthan, performed by 16 senior dancers of Rudrakshya Foundation. Choreographed by Guru Bichitrananda Swain, with music by Guru Ramahari Das and Matruprasad Das, and script by Sanskrit scholar Pandit Nityananda Mishra, the performance vividly depicted the mythical churning of the Ocean of Milk. The sequence, including the battle between Devas and Asuras, Lord Shiva consuming poison, Lord Vishnu as Mohini, and the decapitation of the asura Svarbhanu, was executed with flawless synchronization and gripping stagecraft.
The dancers—Dushasan Sahoo, Debabrata Behera, Manas Ranjan Sahoo, Santosh Ram, Samir Kumar Panigrahi, Sanjeeb Jena, Prashant Kuanr, Biswajit Jena, Basistha Jena, Rosy Swain, T Tulika Reddy, Suchismita Sahoo, Lopamudra Sahoo, Prahallad Sahoo, Abhipsa Biswal, and Anjali Dash—delivered a breathtaking performance. Avijit Biswal’s lighting design further enhanced the dramatic impact of the presentation.
Anchored by Er Dr. Srinivas Ghatuary, the 7th Barnali Festival ended on a high note, leaving art lovers with an unforgettable experience.
