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 38th Sradhanjali Samaroha and Swarna Samaroha - Dr. Nita Vidyarthi e-mail: nitavidyarthi@gmail.com Photos courtesy: Tridhara August 22, 2024 38TH SRADHANJALI SAMAROHA BY TRIDHARA, BHUBANESWAR The 38th Sradhanjali Samaroha organised by Tridhara in collaboration with Health On Top, on the 16th and 17th of July 2024 was inaugurated at the Rabindra Mandap, Bhubaneswar, to pay tribute to the legendary Odissi dance Guru Debaprasad Das on his death anniversary. Initially a one day festival, it has now been extended to two days for the past few years in order to accommodate the overflowing number of enthusiastic dancers and institutions of the Debaprasad gharana and also from others of the Indian classical dance fraternity, eager to pay their homage to the great Odissi maestro, through dance. With the untiring effort of Guru Dr. Gajendra Panda, Director of Tridhara and the prime custodian of the gharana, the festival is a mega event of showcasing Odissi dance of this novel style of embracing folk, tribal and classical Odissi and amalgamating it into a harmonious mode of presentation. Apart from paying homage, the aim of this Samaroha is to acquaint participants to the process of learning the modes of presentation, group dynamics, attributes and importance of solos and above all watching the performances of famous Gurus and seasoned dancers, at the same time inspiring and influencing them by passing down Guru Debaprasad's style, generation after generation, long after the festival is over. Every year, the event commences on the 16th July morning. At 9am on the first day, the gurus, distinguished guests, disciples and well-wishers garlanded the statue of Guru Debaprasad Das at the premises of Utkal Sangit Mahavidyalaya. Thereafter, the procession of dignitaries and participants moved on to the Rabindra Mandap for the inaugural session and dance performances. The presentations by groups began with the National Cultural Kala Pratisthan - Cuttack, Utkalika Sangeet Academy - Nirakarpur, Pranam Boudh, Sree Sai Dance Academy - Nirakarpur, Swara Jhankar - Bolangir, Odissi Sadhana Pitha - Brahmapur, Lokanath Sangeet Kala Niketan - Bhubaneswar, Sagarika Kala Nikektan - Paradeep, Odissi Nrutyayana - Bramhapur, Swayamshree Nrutya Anusthan - Talcher, Nrutyaprava Dance Academy - Jatani, Nirjhara Cultural Academy, Om Kalinga Kala Parishad, Srimayee Nrutya Anusthan, and Nrutyarchana, from Bhubaneswar and Nrutyalaya Phulbani, and many more rolled over to the evening. The evening began with the lighting of the lamp and Pushpanjali (offering of flowers) to the photograph of Guru Debaprasad Das, placed on the front right hand corner of the stage of Rabindra Mandap by Shri Raghubar Das, Governor of Odisha, Dilip Routrai, Director, Odia Language, Literature and Culture and other dignitaries. Thereafter, esteemed guests, Gurus and senior artistes participating in the Sradhanjali Samaroha 2024 were felicitated by the Governor of Odisha by presenting them with the Guru Debaprasad Nrutya Ratna 2024.  Rama Kathamrutam  Bagmishree Das The performances began with Tridhara's latest group Odissi dance production 'Rama Kathamrutam' by the principal dancers of the institution based on the major episodes from Tulsidas' Ramcharitmanas. Prabhutosh Panda and Ritwika Banerjee ruled the stage as Rama and Sita. Bagmishree Das, granddaughter of Guru Debaprasad, is indispensable in the Sradhanjali Samaroha. The strong, exhaustively trained dancer made her grandfather and his gharana proud with her talent and impactful solo performance. Other groups participating were Nrutyankita - Angul, Nrutya Prativa - Bhubaneswar, Rawa Dance Academy - Bhubaneswar, Lingaraj Kala Niketan - Puri, Benunada Kala Kendra - Brindavan, Biswannath Sangeetalaya - Cuttack, Nrutyashree - Karanjia, and Shree Jagannath Odissi Kala Kendra - Paralakhemundi. The program was coordinated by Guru Gajendra Panda and anchored by Dr. Srinibas Ghatuary. The second day started with an afternoon valedictory session where participating institutions and dancers were the senior group of Tridhara, Vidya Dance Academy - Cuttack, Gelha Ma Kala Niketan - Boudh, Maa Tarini Nrutya Sikhya Kendra - Keonjhar, Utkalika Nrutya Anusthan - Bramhapur, Mihir Dance Academy - Aska, Nrutya Chandrika - Jajpur, Nrutyam Kala Gabesana Kendra - Hinjilikatu, Trinetra Kala Kunja - Choudwar, Aradhana Princess Dance Academy - Bolagarh, Natyashastra, Mokshya and Jagruti Cultural Academy - Bhubaneswar; Prasannakshee - Brahmapur, Nrutyanga Foundation Trust, Kala Vikash Kendra - Cuttack and Nataraj Kala Mandir - Philbani.  Senior group of Tridhara  'Bhangi' by Art Vision  Maumala Nayak At the valedictory session of the concluding evening, Guru Debaprasad Nrutya Ratna 2024, awards were presented to Gurus and senior artistes. The evening presentations were by the dancers of Tridhara Repertory Group, 'Bhangi' by Art Vision, Bhubaneswar, where the "Sabdha swara patha" incorporated in Ileana Citaristi's choreography was composed by Guru Gajendra Panda and Bhava Sringar, Kolkata. Kathak dancer Maumala Nayak from New Delhi offered an energetic and impressive solo presentation with the various nritta and nritya elements of the dance form. The programme was anchored by Basudev Nath. SWARNA SAMAROHA 2024 The golden 50 years of the dance journey of Guru Gajendra Panda was celebrated with pomp at the Rabindra Mandap, Bhubaneswar on the 22nd of May 2024 in presence of luminaries in the field of art, literature, dignitaries, dancers and connoisseurs through a day long festival of dance bathed in memories and accolades. The festival looked back at the trajectory of his long and fortuitous journey starting from Sakhi Nata as a little boy (sakhi pila) to Odissi as a practitioner, performer and finally as a composer with unswerving determination and phenomenal zeal to reach the heights of artistic excellence. As a humble man rooted to his soil, with a lifetime dedicated to dance from the year 1974 to 2024, often striding past rough terrains of the dance world, his thirst and efforts for knowledge, achievement and dedication remained ever expanding. And so today, Guru Gajendra Panda stands as a revered figure in the realm of Odissi not only as a remarkable dancer and Guru, but also for his contribution to the art and dance form embodying both tradition and innovation which remains steeped in freshness and creative imagination. On the inaugural session, Odissi offerings of the choicest of dance performances were showcased by the senior and junior artistes of Tridhara. The first presentation was "Gananayak" followed by Mangalacharan - "Laxmi Nrusingha Dhyana" set to raga Mangalagujari and Lalita, music composed by Guru Gopal Chandra Panda, rhythm composed by Guru Banamali Maharana. Presentations that followed were abhinaya "Kede Chanda", "Mahakali Dhyan", "Uthilu Ede Begi" and "Phulendi".  'Uthilu Ede Begi' by juniors  Gananayaka  Manaudharana by Shreya, Tanisha & Rutuja  Dr. Atasi Mishra A special composition of the Guru Debaprasad Gharana was "Rageshri Sthayee" followed by Odia abhinaya "Manaudharana" by Kabisamrat Upendra Bhanja set to raga Mishra Aaravi and tala triputa. This very sensitive number, immortalised as a solo by Guru Gajendra Panda, was special in a way that (by his own admission) its composition had been influenced by the gestures of a blind beggar in front of Puri Jagannatha Temple, while watching him there for days in and out. "Nabarasa" set to Ragamalika and Talamalika was presented as a duet by Mokshada and Harapriya and senior Guru Dr. Atasi Mishra presented an impactful Kalavati Pallavi, famous as a composition of the Debaprasad gharana. The bunch of group presentations concluded with a powerful Durga Tandav. Various dignitaries graced the valedictory session and presented the Swarna Samman 2024 to senior disciples of Guru Gajendra Panda. The popular mesmerising Odissi dance production "Prahallad" by senior dancers of Tridhara after the valedictory session concluded the Swarna Samman Samaroha. It was a privilege to watch Guru Gajendra Panda with a mace in his hand as Vishnu, killing King Hiranyakashipu with all his vigour. All the dance programmers were choreographed by Guru Gajendra Kumar Panda. The event was compered by Dr. Mrutunjaya Rath.  Dr. Nita Vidyarthi is a veteran critic of performing arts and writes on dance, music and theatre in leading publications. |
