Bhubaneswar: The fourth evening of the International Odissi Dance Festival unfolded as a spiritually uplifting experience at Rabindra Mandap, as renowned Odissi exponent and Padma Shri awardee Guru Ramli Ibrahim, accompanied by accomplished dancer Geethashri, held the audience spellbound with a deeply evocative performance.
The highlight of the evening was their presentation of “Mangala Charan Harihar,” a devotional offering to Mother Earth (Dharitri Ma). Choreographed in Ektali tala and set to Pahadi and Darbari ragas, the recital created a serene and emotionally charged atmosphere, resonating with spiritual intensity and aesthetic finesse.
Beginning with bhumi pranam and floral offerings to Dharitri Ma, the duo artistically portrayed the cosmic manifestations of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva through graceful Odissi movements, sculpturesque poses and expressive mudras. Their seamless coordination, refined technique and spiritual depth drew prolonged applause from the audience. The recital concluded with sabha pranam, marking a dignified and graceful culmination of the performance.
Speaking after the recital, Guru Ramli Ibrahim and Geethashri described it as a privilege to venerate Mother Earth through the Mangala Charan and to depict the divine forms of Vishnu and Mahadev using the classical Odissi idiom. They said the warm and appreciative response from the audience made the experience deeply fulfilling.
Earlier in the programme, artistes from various institutions enriched the festival with a range of Odissi compositions, including pallavis, abhinaya and group presentations. Performances such as Kalabati Pallavi, Arabhi Pallavi, Shankarabharanam Pallavi, along with expressive abhinaya items by both emerging and established dancers, added vibrancy and diversity to the evening.
The programme was attended by several dignitaries, including Principal Secretary, Commerce and Transport Department, Usha Padhee; Commissioner-cum-Secretary, MSME Department, D Prashant Kumar Reddy; Secretary, Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department, Dr Bijay Ketan Upadhyaya; Special Secretary Deba Prasad Dash; Deputy Director Suchismita Mantri, and eminent Odissi gurus Sujata Mohapatra and Meera Das, among others.
The International Odissi Dance Festival continues to celebrate Odisha’s rich classical dance tradition, providing a vibrant मंच where legendary maestros and promising young artistes come together to uphold and enrich the timeless legacy of Odissi.
