A night of devotion and rhythm: A classical dance and music extravaganza

A captivating evening of Indian classical dance and music unfolded at the Satyajit Ray Auditorium, ICCR as Mardala Manjeera – The Divine Rhythm took the centre stage. The event, presented by Darpani in association with the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, was curated and directed by Guru Arnab Bandyopadhyay, showcasing a rich tapestry of dance and music traditions.
The event began with Mangalacharan, where dancers offered pushpanjali and invoked Lord Jagannath’s blessings. This was followed by Namami Vighnaraja Twam, a prayer dedicated to Lord Ganesha, composed in Raga Puria Dhanesri and Ekatali Tala, with choreography by Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra and music by Pandit Bhubaneswar Mishra. The performance continued with Basant Pallavi, a pure dance piece in Raga Basant and Ekatali Tala, and Hari Om, an invocation to the holy trinity, choreographed by Guru Ratikant Mohapatra in Raga Malika and Adi Tala. Another highlight, Vakratunda Mahakaya, paid tribute to Lord Ganesha in Raga Mishra Suddha Bibhas and Adi Tala, composed by Guru Ratikant Mohapatra with music by Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia. The first half concluded with Mohana Pallavi, a dance piece in Raga Mohana and Chaturasra Ekatali Tala, choreographed by Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra.
The second half of the event featured Shantakaram, a prayer to Lord Vishnu, choreographed by Guru Ratikant Mohapatra with music by Shri Bijay Kumar Jena in Raga Gujjari Todi and Tala Joti. This was followed by Vande Mataram, a patriotic invocation, and Patadeep Pallavi, a pure dance performance choreographed by Guru Ratikant Mohapatra in Raga Pattadip and Tala Joti. The evening continued with Bhajan (Shri Ramachandra Kripalu Bhajamana), a devotional piece dedicated to Lord Rama, composed by Guru Arnab Bandyopadhyay with music by S Aiswarya & S Soundarya in Raga Yaman and Tala Tripada. The grand finale, Moksha, symbolised spiritual liberation, choreographed by Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra in Raga Bhairavi and Tala Ekatali.
The event featured performances by distinguished artists including Guru Priti Patel (Manipuri), Guru Sharmila Biswas (Odissi), Praveen Kumar (Bharatanatyam), Sanjib Bhattacharya (Manipuri), and Akash Mallick (Odissi). The performance provided a comprehensive and enriching experience of Indian classical dance and music traditions.