Magic of mythology and folklore recreated through Odissi

Devotional fervour ran high at the third edition of the

Odissi

dance festival, which featured a recital by dancer Sudipta Panda and her team of 150 students. Held at

Ravindra Bharathi

recently, the festival witnessed an impressive performance which was a melange of Odissi, Sambalpuri and Telangana folk forms.

While the invocatory number on Lord Ganesha, ‘Ekadantaya Vakratundaya’, commenced the proceedings, the formations of the dancers, with references to several mythological characters, flora and fauna, made for a pleasing sight.

The performance to

Mahishasura

Mardhini gave a perfect finish to a recital that was a good mix of folklore, mythology and acrobatics.

The bonhomie between the Odissi dancers and Telangana’s cultural circuit was there for everyone to see. “Hyderabad has been the only city that has given respect to dance forms of other States as much as theirs. The ambience and the response to our performance have given us more enthusiasm to return to the city soon. I’m glad that Odissi as a dance form is getting the right due in the Telugu states,” Sudipta Panda said.