Celebrating Odissi: The 32nd Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award Festival Kicks Off in Bhubaneswar
A Grand Start to the Festival
Bhubaneswar: The 32nd Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra (GKCM) Award Festival commenced on Saturday at Rabindra Mandap in Bhubaneswar, showcasing prominent figures in classical dance, music, theatre, and cinema.
This five-day festival, organized by Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Odissi Nrityabasa in partnership with Sri Sri University, will run until September 9. The opening night featured notable attendees such as Indian singer Anup Jalota, Vice-Chancellor of Sri Sri University Tej Pratap, retired IAS officer Ashok Kumar Tripathy, and MGM Group's Managing Director Pankaj Lochan Mohanty.
This year's festival holds particular importance as it marks the centenary of the revered Odissi dancer Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra. Under the direction of Guru Ratikant Mohapatra, the festival will culminate in the presentation of the GKCM Awards 2026. Anup Jalota expressed his sentiments, stating, “Guru Kelucharan ji always regarded me as his son. My wife learned from him, and his dance has brought Odissi to global recognition.”
A Showcase of Talent
The festival kicked off with a captivating Hindustani vocal performance by Shubha Mudgal, who enchanted the audience alongside Aneesh Pradhan on tabla and Sudhir Nayak on harmonium. Mudgal's repertoire included two pieces in the melodious Raag Bageshri and another in Raag Gaur Malhar, exploring the intricate styles of Khayal, Thumri, and Dadra.
Over the next four days, attendees can look forward to a rich array of classical dance, music, and theatre performances. Esteemed artists such as Sharon Lowen (Odissi dance), Keshab Chandra Rout (Odissi music), Dhirendranath Mallick (theatre), and Mahasweta Ray (cinema) will be honored with the GKCM Lifetime Achievement Awards.
Each award includes a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh along with a citation. The GKCM Kala Samman 2026 will be awarded to violinist Agnimitra Behera and vocalist Nazia Alam, each receiving Rs 50,000 and a citation. Additionally, the Yuva Pratibha Samman will recognize talented Odissi dancers Vrinda Chadha and Aishwariya Singhdev, Kathak dancer Nikita Banawalikar, and Odissi music-Mardala artist Soumya Ranjan Nayak.