Dedicating the 28 th OMC Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra (GKCM) Award Festival to legendary Kathak maestro Pandit Birju Maharaj, Srjan paid homage to the departed soul on the inaugural evening of the festival. In the universe of dance, the bond between Pandit Birju Maharaj and Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra is fondly remembered. Although the legends have left for their heavenly abodes, their greatness can never fade away from the memories of those who have witnessed their magic on stage.
Srjan, as a premier cultural institution of the nation, recognizes its role in sustaining creative energy and artistic endeavour while fulfilling its social responsibility to the public and the Art fraternity. After two years of successfully hosting the Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra (GKCM) Award Festival on digital platforms, they brought the Award Festival back to the proscenium stage in style, hosting the 28 th OMC GKCM Award Festival at Rabindra Mandap, Bhubaneswar from September 5th to September 9th at 7 pm each day.
The welcome address by Guru Ratikant Mohapatra, Director, Srjan was followed by speeches by eminent dignitaries Shri Prabodh Rath, Eminent Theatre Personality and Secretary, Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi; Shri Pankaj Lochan Mohanty, Director, MGM Minerals; Prof (Dr.) BR Sharma, Vice Chancellor, Sri Sri University, Cuttack; Shri Ashwini Kumar Patra, Minister of State, Tourism, Odia Literature Language and Culture, Excise; and Shri Madhu Sudan Padhi, Addl. Chief Secretary, Odia Literature Language and Culture.
This year, the inaugural, third, and concluding evening of the festival feature only one mega performance, while the remaining days maintain the traditional format of a classical music recital followed by a classical dance presentation. The programme has been designed with an eye on the most suitable combination of artistes and genre. The audiences were treated to the much-awaited music performance by famed flautist Pandit Ronu Majumdar, renowned percussionist Ustad Taufiq Qureshi, and rising Tabla artiste Ishaan Ghosh. Firmly rooted in the Maihar gharana, Pandit Majumdar is constantly expanding the horizons of his music oeuvre and conducted “Venu Naad,” a concert of 5,378 flautists on one stage for the Guinness World Records. Ace percussionist Ustad Taufiq Qureshi, the son and disciple of Tabla maestro Ustad Allarakha, is known for his distinct technique of playing the African instrument Djembe. The young and exceptionally talented Ishaan Ghosh delivered a memorable performance on the Tabla, with his unique articulations and complex rhythmic tapestries with appealing delineations materializing the vision of his father Pandit Nayan Ghosh.
The cadence and harmony of their notes mesmerized the audience, as they presented “Synthesis: A Classical Medley,” beginning with Raga Jai Jaiwanti. This track was followed by a confluence of Ragas and Talas. The evening concluded on a high, with the evocative notes of the Flute, and the rhythmic intricacies of the Djembe and Tabla, as the artistes delved into their musical repertoires, delighting the viewers.
The second evening of the festival on September 6 th commences with an Odissi Vocal recital by Sushree Sristi Swarupa Mishra, accompanied by Guru Dhaneswar Swain on the Mardala and Guru Ramesh Chandra Das on the Violin. Her performance will be followed by a Bharatanatyam group performance by renowned exponent Vidushi Geeta Chandran and her ensemble, the Natya Vriksha Dance Collective.
The artistes were aided by the skilful and distinctive light designing of Shri Debiprasad Mishra and the seamless sound engineering of Shri C. Anand Krishna. Online viewers can find the live stream on Srjan’s Facebook page and YouTube channel. The event is being attended both physically and virtually by several dignitaries, influential citizens, luminaries from the world of Art, and audiences from across India and abroad. The entire festival has been curated, conceptualized, and designed by Guru Ratikant Mohapatra, with the programme execution by Shri Debiprasad Mishra. Shri Mrutyunjaya Rath and Smt. Anuja Mishra ably conducted the proceedings of the evening.
This year, Srjan is fortunate to receive the institutional support of Sri Sri University, Cuttack, leading educational institution of India. The title sponsor of the festival is Odisha Mining Corporation Limited (OMC). The 28 th OMC GKCM Award Festival is supported by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and the Department of Odia Literature Language and Culture, Government of Odisha. While MGM Minerals and Odisha Tourism are the gold sponsors, NALCO, IMFA, Priyadarshini Silks, and Paradeep Phosphates Limited are the festival sponsors. The hospitality is being sponsored by Mayfair Hotels and Resorts, Swosti Group of Hotels and Resorts, and The Royale Midtown Hotel.
Swain on the Mardala and Guru Ramesh Chandra Das on the Violin. Her
performance will be followed by a Bharatanatyam group performance by renowned
exponent Vidushi Geeta Chandran and her ensemble, the Natya Vriksha Dance
Collective.
The artistes were aided by the skilful and distinctive light designing of Shri
Debiprasad Mishra and the seamless sound engineering of Shri C. Anand Krishna.
Online viewers can find the live stream on Srjan’s Facebook page and YouTube
channel. The event is being attended both physically and virtually by several
dignitaries, influential citizens, luminaries from the world of Art, and audiences from
across India and abroad. The entire festival has been curated, conceptualized, and
designed by Guru Ratikant Mohapatra, with the programme execution by Shri
Debiprasad Mishra. Shri Mrutyunjaya Rath and Smt. Anuja Mishra ably conducted
the proceedings of the evening.
This year, Srjan is fortunate to receive the institutional support of Sri Sri University,
Cuttack, leading educational institution of India. The title sponsor of the festival is
Odisha Mining Corporation Limited (OMC). The 28 th OMC GKCM Award Festival is
supported by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and the Department of
Odia Literature Language and Culture, Government of Odisha. While MGM Minerals
and Odisha Tourism are the gold sponsors, NALCO, IMFA, Priyadarshini Silks, and
Paradeep Phosphates Limited are the festival sponsors. The hospitality is being
sponsored by Mayfair Hotels and Resorts, Swosti Group of Hotels and Resorts, and
The Royale Midtown Hotel. Dharitri and Orissa Post, and Narthaki.com are the
media partners and web partner respectively.
Prasanta Patnaik 
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