Kolkata: Kalajyoti Mahotsav 2020-2021 was held recently in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, with the noble i...
Kolkata: Kalajyoti Mahotsav 2020-2021 was held recently in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, with the noble idea of sustaining Indian classical performing arts in these grim Covid times.
The aim of the Mahotsav has been to involve
legendary artists, whose years of dedicated presentation would motivate
upcoming exponents and send out a joyful message to the young dancers and also to
involve as much young talented dancers as possible, provide them a platform to
get respect and recognition.
Season II commenced with a dazzling programme on
January 26 to a full house with a spell binding performance at the inauguration
ceremony by renowned Bangladeshi vocalist Raziya Sultana Munni, who sang Indian
patriotic songs as well as traditional Bangla Folk numbers. Senior disciples of
Kalajyoti and Guru Monalisa Ghosh presented harmonised choreographies. Monalisa
Ghosh paid tribute to Bharat Mata with a sloka written by Rishi Aurobindo.
A workshop on Nrityabhinay by Prof. Omprakash
Bharti, HOD Performing Arts Section, Mahatma Gandhi International University,
Wardha, too was held.
Kalajyoti Mahotsav continued on March 21 on the virtual
platform where the veteran dancers were Guru Kalamandalam Gopalakrishnan,
Kathakali, Guru Meenu Thakur, Kuchipudi, Guru Vani Madhav, Odissi, Guru Shila
Mehta, Kathak, Guru BananiChakrabarty, Gaudiya followed by several talents both
national and international.
The Grand Finale of Kalajyoti Mahotsav was held on
March 26 and 27 at Kalamandap – The Ethnic Theatre, at Rajpur, South
24-Parganas. The guests of honour were Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee Aloka
Kanungo, Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee Malabika Mitra, Arunava Roy, head of
production, Doordarshan, Kolkata, R N Goswami, regional director, ICCR,
Kolkata.
The event started on an auspicious note with a live
group chanting of Ganapati Vandana with dancers between the age group of 5 to 7
expressing with Hasta Mudras in sitting position, an innovative idea of Guru
Monalisa Ghosh.
The lighting of the lamp, motivating speeches and
felicitations of the guests of honour were followed by Indian classical dance
recitals by around 200 students in 2 days. There were group choreographies,
duets and solos.
Among the marvellous presentations of the two
evenings were Ashtapadi Lalita Labanga Lata directed by Guru Monalisa Ghosh, who
performed as Radha with her disciple Jit Ghosh as Krishna. The audience was
treated to an extremely colourful and graceful portrayal of Radha Krishna
immersed in joyful Holi celebration with the sakhis, which ended with
devotional chanting of Hari bol.
Duet choreography by Jayati Basu and Pradyumna
Kumar Mohanta on a composition of Guru Pankaj Charan Das – Radharani Sange
Nache. Group presentation of Saraswati Vandana by
disciples of Kalajyoti, solo and group Bharatnatyam by Guru Suchismita Aditya
Sarkar. Kathak renowned exponents included Souvik Chakrabarty, Guru Sandip
Mallick and ensemble, Guru Kushal Bhattacharya, Sourav Roy were among the other
highlights.
Kalajyoti Mahotsav 20-21 concluded with all
performers and back stage assistants being felicitated.
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