The ninth edition of the annual Dhauli-Kalinga Mahotsav, the festival exclusively dedicated to contemporary, folk and martial art dance forms, will begin at the foothills of the historic Dhauli Stupa on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar from December 10 to 14.
This was where Emperor Ashoka was believed to have fought the last battle of the great Kalinga war before surrendering the sword and embracing Buddhism.
The festival is being organised by Odisha Dance Academy in collaboration with Odisha Tourism, Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) and Art Vision.
Secretary of Tourism & Culture Department, Ashok Tripathy said, Odisha Tourism was organising Kalinga Mahotsav since 2003 at the Shanti Stupa. The festival was the brainchild of city-based noted Italian Odissi dancer Ileana Citaristi. Similarly, Odisha Dance Academy held its Dhauli Mahotsav every year at the historic site to promote classical and folk dance of the country.
“It was last year that we decided to merge both Kalinga Mahotsav and Dhauli Mahotsav that were organised separately at the same venue for the convenience of tourists and visitors,” he said, adding that a special jury selected the artistes for this festival.
Festival director Aruna Mohanty of Odisha Dance Academy said except for the inaugural event, every evening of the festival will showcase a martial art, classical and folk dance form of the country. “The inaugural evening will showcase Odissi dance by the Odisha Dance Academy and Kalaripayattu by Samudra Centre for Indian Contemporary Performing Arts from Trivandrum,” she said.
The following evening shall feature Gotipua dance by Nakshatra Gurukul, Bhubaneswar, Kathak dance by Vikram Iyengar, Kolkata, and Shantali tribal dance by a troupe from Rairangapur led by Dushmanta Basa.
The third evening will present Mahodadhi, a music concert conducted by mardal exponent Dhaneswar Swain. The music for the concert has been composed by Guru Ramhari Das. Other presentations of the evening include Odissi dance by Sharmila Biswas and her troupe from Kolkata and martial dance of Ghataka by Shaheed Baba Deep Singh Ji Ghataka Academy, Chandigarh.
The famed folk art Sankhadhwani (blowing of conch) by the Sankhadhwani Kala Kendra of Ganjam shall be the first presentation of the fourth evening which will also feature Bharatnatyam by Anita Guha and her troupe from Chennai and the martial art of Attakallari by Attakkallari Centre for Movement Arts, Bangalore. “The fourth evening will have some more interesting dances like a Chhau & Paika Nrutya that has been choereographed specially by Ileana Citaristi, Laudi Nrutya by Guru Nityananada Das and his group from Bhadrak. Besides, there will be Gitinatya (Kanchi Bijaya) by GODMECOR group of Kendrapara,” added Tripathy.
Buddha Samman
Culture Secretary Tripathy informed that eminent painter Jatin Das has been chosen for the prestigious Buddha Samman for the current year for his contribution to the field of creative and performing arts. The award, that was instituted by Odisha Dance Academy five years ago to remember and preach the teachings of Goutam Buddha, would be presented during the Dhauli-Kalinga Mahostav. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 50,000, a citation and an ‘angabastra’.