Shree Jagannath Devotional Music Festival-‘Guhari 2024’ inaugurated on the occasion of Holy Ratha Yatra
Bhubaneswar – The inaugural function of Shree Jagannath Bhakti Sangeet Samaroh – Guhari 2024, organized by Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Odissi Research Center under the auspices of the Department of Odia Language, Literature and Culture at Rabindra Mandap, Bhubaneswar today. Prominent singers from across the state are participating in this three-day music festival. The main purpose of organizing the festival during the holy Ratha Yatra is to bring Shree Jagannath’s devotional music to the attention of the people and spread it.
The inaugural guests were Shri Suryabanshi Suraj, Minister of Odia Language, Literature and Culture; Shri Dilip Routrai, Director, Department of Odia Language, Literature and Culture, Dr. Syantanu Rath, Former Director, Doordarshan Kendra Bhubaneswar and Former Station Director AIR Cuttack; Dr. Kirtan Narayan Parhi, Renowned Researcher (Odia Language & Odissi Music).
An English language research book on Odishi Music, titled “Evolution of Odishi Music” authored by Dr. Kirtan Narayan Parhi and published by Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Odissi Research Centre was inaugurated by the esteemed guests of the evening.
The first presentation was a chorus by the students of the GKCM Odissi Research Centre. Renowned singers of the first evening opened the performances, such as, Geeta Das, Shricharan Mohanty, Anindita Dash, Sarat Kumar Nayak, Sohini Mishra and Sanjay Dash. They were accompanied by Jogendra Nath Swain on tabla, N. Babuli on drum, Swamya Ranjan Joshi on flute, Krushna Chandra Das on octopad, Ranjan Kumar Mishra on keyboard and Prafulla Chandra Behera on harmonium. The music performance of the artists based on Shree Jagannath was quite impressive and was well received by the audience. The programme was co-ordinated by Chief Executive Guru Smt Sikata Das & Anuja Tarini Mishra, Administrative Officer, Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Odissi Research Centre and the programme was anchored by Dr. Mrutyunjaya Rath. The Shree Jagannath devotional music program is a very ambitious step taken by Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department, Government of Odisha during Ratha Yatra.
