This story is from December 1, 2020

Odisha: Five-day Konark festival begins

Odisha: Five-day Konark festival begins
The festival organised by the state government was inaugurated by Jyoti Prakash Panigrahi, minister of tourism and culture.
BHUBANESWAR: The Covid-19 pandemic could not deter the spirit of dance performers and audience at the premises of the Sun Temple in Konark which reverberated to the sounds of classical music and stellar performances of dancers on the inaugural day of the five-day 31st Konark festival on Tuesday.
Audience took their seats arranged according to the social distancing rules. The magical performances from dancers, singers and musicians enthralled the audience at the open air theatre with the famous Sun Temple at the background.
It enlivened the gloomy atmosphere of the pandemic.
The festival organised by the state government was inaugurated by Jyoti Prakash Panigrahi, minister of tourism and culture. Energy minister Captain Dibya Shankar Mishra, school and mass education minister Samir Ranjan Dash, sports and youth services minister Tusharkanti Behera and other dignitaries attended the festival.
The festival started with an Odissi dance recital. Dancers of Odisha Dance Academy, Bhubaneswar, under the tutelage of Guru Aruna Mohanty, wowed the audience with their powerful performance. They praised the Lord Shiva through an invocatory dance titled Shivam Dhimahi.
Later, the dance troupe from Chennai, Sridevi Nrithyalaya, staged a Bharatanatyam recital under the guidance of Sheela Unnikrishnan. Audience enjoyed performances of both the troupes.
Besides the dance festival, an International Sand Art Festival was inaugurated at the Chandrabhaga beach near the Sun Temple. Sand sculptors exhibited their works in the festival. The artists created sand art on the theme of Covid-19 awareness, said noted sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik.
As many as 70 artists including six from outside the state have participated in the 9th International Sand Art Festival. They have showcased their sand arts in 25 stalls. This festival will continue till December 5.
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About the Author
Hemanta Pradhan

Hemanta Pradhan writes for the Times of India on education, hospital issues, transport, agriculture & tribal affairs. He has been working as a journalist since 2011. He has a PG degree in Journalism & Mass Communication from Berhampur University. He has won Laadli Media Awards for gender sensitivity.

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