Dance festival in the city celebrates classical Indian dance forms Odissi, Kathak and Bharatnatyam

The third session of Srijanotsav 2024 was recently held at Gyan Manch, an event supported by the Sangeet Natak Akademi. The festival, embracing the theme The Power of Three, showcased the rich traditions of Odissi, Kathak, and Bharatnatyam, offering a vibrant celebration of India's classical dance heritage.
The evening began with an inaugural ceremony and a felicitation program, followed by a series of remarkable performances by Darpani. The first was Shrita Kamala, an Astapadi from Geeta Govinda, choreographed by Arnab Bandyopadhyay. This was followed by a traditional Odissi item, Dekho go Sakhi, before the highlight of the evening, Krishnaya Tubhyang Namah. Inspired by Jayadeva’s Geeta Govinda, this new production by Darpani explored the divine incarnations of Lord Krishna. The performance, choreographed by Arnab Bandyopadhyay, featured a stellar cast including Bandyopadhyay himself, Soham Dey, Anusmita Bhattacharjee, and Nikita Das. The piece depicted Krishna as a cosmic force and compassionate guide, highlighting his divine love, teachings of Dharma, Bhakti, and Karma, as well as his eternal presence in the cycle of life.
The Bharatnatyam segment followed, featuring an ensemble performance by Subhajit Dutta, Sayan Sarkar, and Karunaketan Bhakta, which captivated the audience with its precision and grace. The Odissi performance that followed, presented by Shayomita Dasgupta, Rajnita Mehra, and Sanjukta Ray Ghosal, was a beautiful expression of traditional Odissi movements. The evening concluded with a mesmerizing Kathak performance by Sourav Ray, Subrata Pandit, and Souvik Chakraborty, showcasing the rhythmic brilliance and storytelling of Kathak.
Srijanotsav 2024 proved to be a magnificent display of India’s classical dance forms, beautifully weaving together tradition, choreography, and devotion in an unforgettable celebration of the Power of Three.