'Yuga Gandharva’ award is presented to Lucky Prajna Pratisthita Mohanty, Saswat Joshi and Pravat Kumar Swain

On the fifteenth death anniversary of the Legendary Odissi Maestro - Pathmasree Guru Pankaj Charan Das, ‘Yuga Gandharva’ award, instituted by 'Guru Pankaj Das Odissi Research Foundation', is presented to Sri Lucky Prajna Pratisthita Mohanty, Sri Saswat Joshi and Sri Pravat Kumar Swain, three high-spirited and effervescent young male dancers. In a function carried out at Bhanja Kala Mandap, Bhubaneswar on 11th June 2018, Padmashree Kumkum Mohanty, Sri Antaryami Mishra and Sri Shantanu Prusty handed over the awards to them. Sri Sarat Das, Director & CEO of the 'Guru Pankaj Das Odissi Research Foundation' was present.

Guru Sri Pankaj Charan Das, the Aadi Guru of Odissi dance, was the one who took Odissi out of the Temples boundaries. He was awarded Pathmasree in 1992 by Govt. of India for his valuable contributions to the artform.

In the performance slot after the award ceremony, Lucky Mohanty presented ‘Saja kanja nayana…’, a poem by Sri B.C. Pujapanda. It was choreographed by Sri. Kumkum Mohanty. Pravat Swain performed Odiya poet Pathmasree Mayadhar Mansingh's 'Bar badhu…' choreographed by Smt. Aruna Mohanty and Saswat Joshi performed ‘Rasa panchaka…’ abhinaya. This is originally composed by Adi Guru Sree Pankaj Charan Das, reoriented by Sri Sarat Das.

Photo Credit of award ceremony : 'Guru Pankaj Das Odissi Research Foundation'

Comments

Pollachi Tamil Isai Sangam annual dance fest

A s a part of 33rd annual dance festival by the Pollachi Tamil Isai Sangam, a group of Mohiniyattam dancers from Upaasna akademy of fine arts of Mumbai led by Smt. Sujatha Nair presented a few selected Mohiniyattam items on Sunday 12th August 2018 at the KKG Thirumana mandapa auditorium. Starting with an item in praise of the one tusked Vigneswara they presented a Varnam in ragam Simhendra Madyamam depicting few scenes from Ramayanam like Ahalya moksham, Seeta Swayamvaram and Sabarai Darshanam. While Sujatha Nair did a solo presentation of an ashtapadi from Gitagovindam. The group also presented an item in Ragamaalika, recreating the Vrindavana leelas of Lord Srikrushna. All the items were choreographed by Smt. Jayashree Nair, founder director of Upaasana. Jayashree Nair and her students were felicitated by the Sangam secretary Sri G D Gopalakrishnan.

Executive Music Therapy Health Check up for the Wandering Monk! - Margazhi 2018

H aving come from Delhi to Chennai Margazhi, i decided to do an executive music therapy and consulted different 'resident doctors', specialists, super specialists etc located in different Sabhas. My music therapy began at Krishna Gana Sabha on 24th December with 'a detailed examination' by Pandit Ronu Majumdar who is arguably the best Lungs and Breath specialist. He decided immediately on 'checking' me that i should first be de-toxicated as I have come from a highly polluted Delhi. He breathed melody of his magic flute for two hours and i felt as if i am surrounded by Air Purifier. At the end of the session he gave me a hug to certify that i am purified. My next visit was to Partha Sarathy Swami Sabha where a Fulbright ( fully bright ) GP by name Sikkil Gurucharan took me right under his nose . I was seated by him in the front row and the session of 150 minutes was rejuvenating. He also took help from a very senior Consul...

SPIC MACAY 'Kumbh' - A plethora of Indian classical music and dance

W e all know the 'Kumbh' or 'Kumbha' Mela (Fair) to be one of the largest human congregations in the world. This 50 day festival is a pilgrimage of faith where people gather to bathe in the sacred river, Ganges. Traditionally, the ArdhKumbh (which is now celebrated as Kumbh) is held once in every six years at different locations (Prayagraj, Haridwar, Nashik and Ujjain) depending on Hindu astrological positions. This year, the Kumbh is being celebrated from 15th January - 4th March 2019 at Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. SPICMACAY has come together with Ministry of Culture, Government of India, Dept. of Culture, U.P., District Administration, Mela Administration and got the opportunity to be a part of the Kumbh Mela 2019 Anahad Naad 'The Unheard Sound' and celebrate the richness and diversity of our Indian heritage. In this regard, SPICMACAY has invited students from different states to participate in the majestic SPICMACAY Kumbh Mela 2019 to be hel...

Nrtya Techniques in Mohiniyattam; book released

R enowned 'Mizhavu' artist and Guru - Padmashri P.K. Narayanan Nambiar released a book ( Malayalam ) - 'Nrthya Sankethangal Mohiniyattathil' written by Dr. Geetha Sivakumar at Palakkad, Keralam. Over the years, different 'Baanis' or 'Traditions' had contributed a lot in the nourishment of Mohiniyattam. This book -'Nrtya Sankethangal Mohiniyattathil' focuses on 'Kalamandalam baani'. ”Mohiniyattam, a lyrical dance form of Kerala, has a well structured 'prayoga' style in Kerala Kalamandalam Kalaries. This book tends to analyse the techniques of Mohiniyattam adopted by Kerala Kalamandalam so as to consider it as a Lasya Nrtya form. The queries on the techniques of nrtya such as what, why, where, when are the basic thought of this study. It is analysed on the basis of Sanskrit texts, which give us more scientific explanations and principles. ...

Third studio show at Sarani, Whitefield

S arani’s third studio showing showcased two dance forms, Mayurbhanj Chhau by Sri Aditya Srivastava, a student of Guru Sri Janmajaya Sai Babu and Odissi duet by the mother-daughter duo, Smt. Sonalika Purohit and Kum. Srinika Purohit. Sri Aditya Srivastava began his peformance with a dance descriptive of Shiva and then moved onto one where he showcased the elements of martial art techniques that are so much part of Chhau. His jumps, spins and controlled body movements were enjoyed by all including the little ones. Photo Credits : Sri.S Devarajan Following Sri. Aditya’s performance Smt. Sonalika Purohit and Srinika Purohit presented the Odissi. Their performance, while tilted towards the presentation of abhinaya, did also showcase amazing neatness of techniques by eight year old Srinika. Whether it was Smt. Sonalika’s performance describing the 'Panchabhutas' or Kum. Srinika’s description of the Goddess Durga, or their item 'Madhurashtakam', ...

Nrithya Seva Mani by Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival to Kalasree Dr Sunanda Nair

C leveland Thyagaraja Festival's Nrithya Seva Mani award will be presented to the renowned Mohiniyattam exponent Dr. Sunanda Nair. The title of Nrithya Seva Mani is bestowed upon an individual who has made a lasting contribution to Classical Dance through propagation and demonstration. Senior disciple of Pathmabhushan Dr Kanak Rele, Dr. Sunanda Nair is one of the foremost exponents of the art today. She is the first student to complete Masters Degree in Mohiniyattam in India. She has completed her PhD from University of Mumbai for her thesis "Intrinsic Lyrical Feminism in Mohiniattam". She was in high school, while she started the Srutilaya Institute of Fine Arts, which trains students both Mohiniattam and Bharatanatyam, in 1980. She had performed all around the globe in prestigious venues and had received somany awards such as 'Kalarathnam’ from Kerala Kalamandalam(2016), 'Kalaasree' from the Kerala Sangeetha Natak Akadem...

Violin Maestro, Padmabhushan Sri T.N. Krishnan turns 90

T oday is a red letter day for me as I attended Kanakabhishekam of Prof T N Krishnan Sir and his Dharampatni Smt Kamala Ji on the occasion of 90 th Birth Day celebration of the violin Legend. Amidst the chanting of Vedic mantras, Havan, Pooja to Lord Guruvayurappa, Nadaswaram by Vidwan Seshampatti Sivalimgam, felicitation by Governor of Tamil Nadu the celebration culminated with Abhishekam of the couple from the vessel of yagna rituals with everyone singing Gowri Kalyana Vaibhavame. Post the Abhishekam the Couple were resplendent while seated, as people lined up to touch their feet and obtain Mangala Akshadai. I am very very blessed to witness Parameswar Parvathi and was so overwhelmed that I could wet their holy feet with Aananda Bashpam ( tears of joy ). May God Bless them with many more Jayanthi so they can, in turn, Bless millions like me. Sri. C.S. Pancham with Sri T.N. Krishnan and his Dharampatni Smt Kamala on the occasion of 90th B...

The Second ‘WOCUE Rasa-Navam’ ( something special captures )

F rom the set of pics that came under our consideration, we selected this beautiful capture of Smt. Shashwati Garai Ghosh in landacape orientation as the second WOCUE rasanavam – something special captures. Photo by : Debojyothi Dhar, Captured at Mukteshwar Fest, 2017 In this picture, the Dancer is positioned like a wonderful sculpture. The color of her costume is well blended into atmosphere of the stones on the Temple structure in the background. Lights on the Temple structure are nice and the other structures goes into darkness slowly into the infinity. (Announced on 29th May 2017) About the Artist : SMT. SHASHWATI GARAI GHOSH Smt. Shashwati Garai Ghosh, is an Odissi Dancer from Kolkotta. She is a Disciple of Vidushi Sharmila Biswas. Shashwati has performed several times at the Konark Festival, the Mukteshwar Festival, and the Ananya Festival in India. Besides, she has danced at Menaka Thakkar’s group production (Toronto, 2004), Maximum India...

Infinite Ocean in a Cup! Savour of music from Dr. Jayanthi Kumaresh

W ith its vastness and depth beyond the sight, Music is often referred to as 'Anantha Saagaram' ( the Infinite Ocean). "Cup O' Carnatic" by Vidushi Dr. Jayanthi Kumaresh, a video series which influenced a lot of viewers, was an effort to handover the flavors of the infinite ocean with the piecemeal approach at the best. "So many people write to me with queries on Veena and Music. Though initially I tried to answer them individually, due to time constraint, it became difficult. So I thought it will be nice to have a public platform to attend such queries so that every one can access it", Dr. Jayanthi explains the path that lead her to the creation of "Cup O' Carnatic". To motivate young rasikas into enjoying and appreciating Carnatic music, the videos are purposely kept to a shorter duration. Apart from its rich content and the effective presentation, what was so special about the series was its short duration. This in-fact had ins...

WOCUE

Search This Blog