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Kalajyoti Mahotsav mesmerizes audience

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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