Bhubaneswar: The Gurukul Festival 2023 has been inaugurated by Guru Ramhari Das Odishi Gurukul. The chancellor of Utkal University of Culture Prasanna Kumar swain the event as the chief guest and discussed the contribution of Gurukul in the field of art culture and Odissi music. On this occasion, Odissi singer Guru Ghanshyam Panda was given a sum of Rs. 25000 and Gurukul honor and Central Music Drama Academy honor was given to Guru Niranjan Rout, Head of Dance Department of Gurukul.
The cultural program started with Banda Mardalu Badan with sculptors from the Mardal section of Gurukul. Later, Arpita Sahu and Rashmi Rekha, two students of the University of Culture, entwined twins, sang Odissi in a pared duet. In the singing, there was raga hansadhvani and taal ektaal. While Ramchandra Behera assisted in Mardal, the harmonium and coordination was done by Professor Dr. Dhiraj Kumar Mohapatra. Later, Guru Abhiram Nanda played the flute alone. He was assisted by Guru Swaranjan Nanda and Som de Sarkar on tabla. Odissi dance artists from Gurukul performed Shiva Tandav in Band Odissi dance accompanied by flute. At the end, Padmashri Guru Nisat Charan Das performed the horse dance.
Guru Ramhari Das gave a welcome speech on this occasion, which was coordinated under the supervision of Editor Himanshu Shekhar swain, while Gurukul President Guru Dhaneshwar expressed his gratitude.