Konark Festival 2025: The 36th edition of the iconic Konark Festival opened on Monday evening with a grand cultural display against the breathtaking backdrop of the Sun Temple. As dusk settled over the open-air auditorium, the five-day festival came alive with lights, colours and classical dance performances, marking a vibrant start to one of Odisha’s most celebrated cultural events.
Aesthetically crafted entry gates welcomed visitors, while young women greeted guests with flower petals, adding to the festive atmosphere. Trees lining the walkway and those inside the venue glowed with colourful lights and hanging lamps, showcasing meticulous planning by the Odisha Tourism Department.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, his wife Dr. Priyanka Marandi, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, Jagatsinghpur MP Bibhu Prasad Tarai, and several MLAs including Tusharkanti Behera, Ashrit Pattanayak, Om Prakash Mishra, Upasna Mohapatra, and Sunil Kumar Mohanty inaugurated the festival by lighting the ceremonial lamp.
The inaugural evening featured captivating Odissi performances by Smt. Sonali Mohapatra and artistes of Nrutya Upasana Pitha, Bhubaneswar. They opened with Hanuman Chalisa, followed by Saranga Pallavi and Chari Yuga Devi—each marked by precision, graceful movements and striking sculptural poses reminiscent of temple carvings. Music compositions were by Guru Abhiram Nanda and Nirmal Kumar Mahapatra.
The supporting ensemble of dancers and musicians enriched the performances with vocal, mardal, flute, manjira, violin, tabla and sitar accompaniments.
Adding to the cultural splendour, artistes from Shankarananda Kalakshetra Institute, Hyderabad, led by Dr. Ananda Shankar Jayant, presented mesmerising Bharatanatyam pieces including Dasavataram, Devi Upasakam and Arghya Shivoham, showcasing the geometry and precision of the classical form. Anchors Dr. Mrutyunjay Rath and Dr. Nazia Alam conducted the evening with elegance.
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