The closing ceremony of “Kelucharan Kirtan Shatakam,” organised to commemorate the birth centenary of Odissi dance guru Padma Vibhushan Kelucharan Mohapatra, was held today at Rabindra Mandap.
The three-day program was jointly organised by the Department of Odia Language, Literature and Culture, Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Odissi Research Centre, and Srujan Foundation in memory of the revered guru.
In the first session of today’s closing ceremony, eminent Odissi dancers Sharon Lowen, Muktilata Pal, Sikata Das, Jhelum Paranjape, Shubhada Bhardwakar, Sharmila Mukherjee, and renowned musicians Lakshmikant Palit and Dhaneswar Swain offered floral tributes at the feet of Guru Kelucharan and shared their personal experiences and interactions with him. Additionally, a video of Guru Kelucharan’s Odissi performance on the Ashtapadi “Kuru Yadunandana” from Gita Govinda, presented by Srujan Foundation, was screened at Rabindra Mandap, captivating the audience.
In the evening session, Odisha Sahitya Akademi Secretary Dr Chandrashekhar Hota, Principal of Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya Bijay Kumar Jena, and Odissi dance guru Ratikant Mohapatra were among the distinguished guests who paid homage to the guru.
Eminent dancers performed various Odissi pieces: Sharon Lowen in “Pashyati Dishi Dishi,” Meera Das in “Vibhushan Puspe,” Jhelum Paranjape in “Priye Charushile,” Jyoti Rout in “Bhaja Govindam,” Manoranjan Pradhan and Minati Pradhan in “Ardhanarishwar,” Bipanchi Das in “Krishna Priti,” Suhag Nalini Das in “Rasa Panchak,” Pitambar Biswal in “Ashabari Pallavi,” Jyotsna Sahu in “Nachanti Range Shrihari,” and Ranjib Bhattacharya, Arnab Bandopadhyay, Subikash Mukherjee, and Ranjita Mehra in “Hamsadhwani Pallavi.” All performers were felicitated by the Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Odissi Research Centre and Srujan Foundation.
The main attraction of the three-day birth centenary festival was a photo exhibition on Guru Kelucharan’s life. The exhibition featured photographs from his early life, his dedication to Odissi dance, his teaching at the Odissi Research Centre, and his honours from Padma Shri to Padma Vibhushan. Students, researchers, and enthusiasts from the fields of art and dance visited the exhibition and praised it extensively. A sand art depiction prepared in memory of the guru was also highly appreciated by all artists.
Notably, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi formally inaugurated the “Kelucharan Kirtan Shatakam” program on January 8 and offered floral tributes to the guru’s statue. Disciples and admirers of Guru Kelucharan from across the country and abroad participated in the three-day event, reminiscing about him. On the occasion of the birth centenary, the Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Odissi Research Centre released a short film on his life.
