Odisha Channel Bureau
KONARK: Odisha’s flagship cultural event Konark Festival 2015 started on Tuesday evening in a traditional note to the appreciation of enthralled audience in the Open Air Auditorium here with the famous Sun Temple at the backdrop.The dancers of Srjan under the guidance of Guru Ratikanta Mohapatra presented ‘Vande Mataram’ a glowing tribute to mother India.
Then followed ‘Yugmadwanda Pallavi’, a pure dance based on ‘Rag Bageshree’; ‘Ardhanarishwara’ based on the composition of Adi Guru Sankaracharya described the iconography of the image – a fusion of Shiva and Shakti.The last item in Odissi was ‘Viswas’ interplaying ‘Guruwari’ and ‘Dohas’ of Saint KabirOdissi dance was followed by Manipur classical dance by the artistes of Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy, Manipur.The dancer presented Lai Haroba, the annual festival dance of the Meiteis, the inhabitants of the valley in Manipur.This was followed by Dhol Cholm, the drum dance usually found in spring, in the colourful festival of Holi.Tanum Derena laying emphasis on the tender and delicate body movements, facial expression, and ‘Pung Cholom depicting the varied expression of Manipur Mridanga enthralled the audience
.The last item in Manipur dance was ‘ Vasant Raas’ bringing about Sri Krishna’s love to Gopis in Spring.The cultural evening commenced with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp by Odisha Minister of Tourism & Culture Ashok Chandra Panda.Several other dignitaries were also present.
Prior to the inauguration of the Konark Festival, Panda inaugurated the International Sand Art Festival at Chandrabhaga beach a little distance away from the Open Air Auditorium, with a well-decorated surrounding. Around 50 sand artists, including five foreigners, are taking part in the five-day-long festival that coincides with the Konark Festival.The artists created sculptures on climate change on the opening day, attracting hundreds of local people, tourists and culture and nature lovers.
A sculpture by American female sand artist Sue McGrew had the message: “Warm the Earth, with Love”.Everyone needs to love nature to fight climate change, she said.On the rest four days they will make sculptures on the themes such as Monuments, Swachh Bharat, Unity in Diversity and World Peace respectively.
