Post news network
Bhubaneswar: Rich tributes were paid to renowned Odissi exponent Guru Debaprasad Das as part of his 32nd death anniversary, organised by Tridhara, at Rabindra Mandap here Monday.
Inaugurating the event Women and Child Welfare and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Minister Prafulla Samal lauded the contribution of Guru Debaprasad to Odissi as a dance tradition. “Das groomed several sterling performers in the tradition with his innovation and training. None can match the standard of performance set by Das in Odissi dance,” he added.
Eminent art critic Sunil Kothari, film director Biren Das, GKCM research centre CEO Sangeeta Gosain and Central Sangeet Natak academy award recipient Guru Sudhakar Sahu, 84, were present in the morning session. Odissi dancers from Boudh, Nirakarpur, Bolangir, Berhmapur, Bhubaneswar and Cuttack participated in the afternoon session.
Debaprasad Das’s granddaughter Bagmishree Das performed on the occasion. The evening session saw stellar performance from Japanese dancer Kaori Naka. Guru Sudhakar Sahoo who was the first disciple of Debaprasad Das performed Abhinay on a song – Ea ghora barsha kale priya dasa rasa aadarare basi thiba –based on tripta taal, Biprarambha srungar Rasa and sthai bhaba: Dukha. His abhinay got him a standing round of ovation from the audience. Around 550 students of various Odissi gharana performed at the event.
Interacting with Orissa Post, Sahoo said Guru Debaprasad used to explain the meanings of Bhava, abhinay and Lasya to his disciples.
All the participants were feted by commisioner-cum-secretary, department of Odia language, literature and culture Manoranjan Panigrahi, former board of revenue member Ashok Tripathy and developmemt commissioner R Balakrishnan.