SAMBALPUR: Even as Sambalpur shivered, the biting cold could not deter art lovers from thronging the Gangadhar Mukti Manch on the second day of the 15th Sambalpur Lok Mahotsav here this evening.
The evening began with traditional folk song of the district followed by solo performance of ‘Dhunkel’, a musical instrument on the verge of extinction. It was followed by foot-tapping folk dances of Dalkhai by artistes from Sambalpur, Sohala Suanga and Ravanchaya dances by artistes from Angul, Daka of Phulbani, Jamudali by artistes from Sonepur, Bajasaal by artistes from Kesinga in Kalahandi and Dandari dance from Jharsuguda.
Besides, folk dances like Mathuri from Andhra Pradesh, Gajijhumar from West Bengal and Holi by a troupe from Madhya Pradesh captivated the audience. Devoid of much of entertainment, the gathering left impressed and spellbound with scintillating performance by the folk artistes.
Sambalpur University Vice- Chancellor AK Pujari, Chairman of Orissa Lift Irrigation Corporation Rohit Pujari, MARKFED Chairman Prabhataditya Mishra attended.