Ekamra Utsav of 2008
Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, Ekamra Utsav, Bhubaneswar, Kalinga Mahotsav, Dhauli, Khordha, Raja Rani music festival February 3rd. 2008, 1:35pmThe following is from http://orissa.gov.in/ekamra/utsav.html.
Bhubaneswar, the capital of modern Orissa, is a happy combination of old world charms and new world comforts. The scriptures refer to the ancient Bhubaneswar as the Ekamra Kshetra, literally meaning ‘mango orchards’ which remind us the union of Lord Shiva with Goddess Parvati. The blending of modernity with tradition here is impeccable. While the ancient city is 2600 years old, the modern city came into existence in 1948 as the new capital of Orissa, designed by the German Architect O.H. Koeingsberges. It is said that there were about seven thousand temples here, which earned it the coveted title of the ‘Temple City of India’. Even today from the hundreds of temples that still stand majestically as mute witness of a glorious past, one can study the chronological development of temple architecture from the beginning in the 7th Century AD to its culmination in the 13th Century AD. It is a centre of art and craft, manifest in the dazzling array of products like stone sculptures, pata paintings, palm-leaf etching, silver filigree, papier mache, etc. which is a shoppers’ delight. The classical Odissi Dance and Music have a solid foundation here fondly nourished by illustrious Gurus. The city has also distinguished itself as an important IT Centre and Software Technology Park as well as an ideal Venue for Conference and Conventions to do business with pleasure.
Around Bhubaneswar lies Dhauli in the South which witnessed the great battle of Kalinga in 261 BC after which Emperor Ashok embraced Buddhism and spread the message of peace to the world. Closeby are the remains of Sisupalgarh believed to be the earlier capital of Kalinga. On the west are the twin hills of Khandagiri-Udayagiri honeycombed with rock-cut caves built for the Jain ascetics during the illustrious emperor Kharavela in the 2nd century BC.
Bhubaneswar has, however, been mostly popular as the city of temples among the tourists. But the cultural efflorescence of the city goes beyond the temples. To familiarize the tourists with the larger canvas of the place covering Art & Crafts, Dance & Music, Handicrafts & Handlooms, etc., a Mega Festival titled Ekamra- The Temple City festival has been conceived. This 14-day event will also feature a Food Festival and a Mini Marathon will add spice to this year’s Utsav. The festival of promises to be an experience of a lifetime.
The highlights, as listed in http://orissa.gov.in/ekamra/highlights.html, are:
Components |
Venue |
Date |
Toshali National Crafts Mela Exhibition and Cultural Programme |
Janta Maidan |
15th – 27th Feb 08 |
Mini Marathon |
To be Flagged off at Kalinga Stadium traverse through the important inter sections of Bhubaneswar city (15 km) |
17th Feb 08 |
Mukteswar Dance Festival |
Mukteswar-Parsurameswar temple premises |
17th – 19th Feb 08 |
Kalinga Mahotsav |
Shanti Stupa, Dhauli |
23rd –24th Feb 08 |
Ekamra Food Festival |
Exhibition Ground |
20th – 27th Feb 08 |
Rajarani Music Festival |
Rajarani Temple Complex |
26th – 28th Feb 08 |
Additional Details:
Toshali National Crafts Mela
The Toshali National Crafts Mela has been setup in a rural ambience and is having over 150 National & State award winning handicraft and handloom artisans from all over India. Rural Tourism, Live Demonstration and Workshops will feature the main theme of the Mela.
Cuisines, representing the flavours of India combined with a strong component of day performance and evening cultural programmes have become a major draw in the Mela. The highlight of the cultural evenings will be the scintillating programmes to be presented by exponents of Indian Classical and Folk Dance & Music, Gahzal, etc.
Date |
1st Session |
2nd Session |
3rd Session |
4th Session |
1st Day/ 15-02-08 |
Odissi DanceRekha Tandan |
Shankha Dhwani, Ranapa & Chadheya Gangeswar Jugala Sankhabadya, Narendrapur, Ganjam |
Dhan KoilaKala Tirtha, Badamba, Cuttack |
Folk DanceTo be sponsored by EZCC, Kolkata/ Song & Drama Division, Kolkata |
2nd Day/ 16-02-08 |
GazalBaboo Panigrahi |
SambalpuriEktara Kala Kendra, Titilagarh |
Katha KandheiMaguni Charan Kunara, Keonjhar |
Do |
3rd Day/ 17-02-08 |
Odissi DancePratibha Panda |
GotipuaMaguni Das & Group, Raghurajpur, Puri |
Ghoda NachUchhab Das & Group Choudwar, Cuttack |
Do |
4th Day/ 18-02-08 |
Odissi MusicMohapatra Minati Bhanja |
Chhow DanceUttarasahi Chhow Nrutya Pratisthan, Baripada |
Chutku ChutaDulduli Kala Parishad, Balangir |
Do |
5th Day/ 19-02-08 |
GhazalShri Pankaj Udhas |
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6th Day/ 20-02-08 |
Kathaka |
Naga NachaShrikshetra Hanuman Jayanti Anustan, Puri |
SambalpuriMahanadi Sahitya Sansad, Sonepur |
Do |
7th Day |
GhazalShri J. Hariharan |
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8th Day |
Geeta GobindaSulagna Nanda |
Animal DanceBiswa Janani Kala Parishad, Bhanjanagar |
Paika AkhadaBachhera, Jatrni, Khurda |
Do |
9th Day |
Odissi DanceRaminder Khurana |
JhumerMayurbhanja Sangeet Nrutya Vikash Samiti, Rairangpur |
SambalpuriSankar Prasad Behera & Troupe, Loisinga, Balangir |
Do |
10th Day/ 24-02-08 |
Odissi VocalMamata Parija |
Bangiri & SadarasBSA, Kesinga, Kalahandi |
SambalpuriSanskrutika, Padmapur, Bargarh |
Do |
11th Day/ 25-02-08 |
Odissi DanceMasako |
SambalpuriDhol-Mahuri Anusthan, Nuapara |
Folk DanceRangam, BBSR |
Do |
12th Day/ 26-02-08 |
BharatnatyamKu. Rashmi Dave |
SancharAchyuta Behera, Tabada, Baragarh |
Sambalpuri |
Do |
13th Day/ 27-02-08 |
Odissi DanceGajendra Panda |
Laudi & OgalaLaxmidhara Barik & Group, Bhadrak |
Chadheya -Chadheyani |
Do |
Mini Marathon
Orissa Mining Corporation ltd. is going to organise the 2nd Mini Marathon in Bhubaneswar on 17th February 2008 on the occasion of Ekamra – The Temple City Festival. The Marathon shall be flagged off from Kalinga Stadium by Hon’ble Chief Minister, Orissa and it shall traverse through the important inter sections of Bhubaneswar City covering about 15 km and shall terminate in Kalinga Stadium. The Marathon, besides being a run for fun, aims at propagating the message Run for a Green Orissa. The registration of participation shall be enrolled from 12th to 15th February 2008 in the Office of PRO, OMC Head Office, Bhubaneswar from 3.00 PM to 5.00 PM and on 16th February registration will be made at Kalinga Stadium from 11.00 AM to 5.00 PM.
Mukteswar Dance Festival
The small and elegant Mukteswar Temple with its famous stone arch at the entrance is the gem of Orissan Architecture. The temple is also important as a transition point between the early and later phases of Kalinga School of Architecture for which this dance festival is named after the said temple. The sprawling green lawn in between Mukteswar-Parsurameswar Temple Complexes will host the event.
Date |
Chorus (Shiva Bandana) |
Solo Odissi |
Duet Odissi |
Group Odissi |
17-02-08 |
Bijoy Jena & Group |
Madhubrata Satapathy, Rourkela |
Rahul Acharya & Debasis Patnak |
Suravi, Bhubaneswar |
18-02-08 |
Saswati Social Cultural Centre, Bhubaneswar |
Leesa Mohanty, Mumbai |
Odissa Sangeet Mahavidyalaya, Bhubaneswar |
Roopshree Mohapatra, Puri |
19-02-08 |
Shantilata Chhotray & Group |
Meera Das |
Lingaraj Pradhan & Amulya Balabantray |
Dona Ganguly & Group, Kolkata |
Kalinga Mahotsav
When people celebrate their heritage and ways of life, the spirit of revelry crosses languages, continents and cultures. And the Kalinga Mahotsav at Dhauli, a festival of Martial Dances, is celebrated very much in that spirit.
For the people of Orissa Dhauli hill at the outskirts of Bhubaneswar is more a living experience than a memory. Twenty three hundred years ago, their fore-fathers fought one of the fiercest battles in human history against Emperor Ashok. They suffered loss of a hundred thousand men, lost the war, but gained immortality, because they metamorphosed a warring monarch into an apostle of non-violence and peace. The festival is a fitting tribute to the victory of Peace over War where renowned dancers of India perform harmonising the vigour of martial art with sublime dance forms.
The calm and solemn statue of Buddha overlooking the entire stage from the top of the stupa and the tranquil expanse of the countryside populated by paddy fields and cashew plantations provides the peaceful background to the outburst of movements and sounds which accompany the performance of the martial artists. The aim of the organisers is to harmonise the vigour of martial tradition with the sublimity of peace through the art of dance.
Date | 06.00 – 06.15 PM | 06.15 – 06.40 PM | 06.40 – 07.20 PM |
23-02-08 |
South Korean |
Fauzer Singh & Troupe, Punjab |
Tatteta Gullu, |
24-02-08 |
Tibetan |
Fauzer Singh & Troupe, Punjab |
Paika Dance |
Rajarani Music Festival
Celestial music, sublime surroundings and soothing climes of late winter—soul traverses to an elevated sphere leaving you utterly relaxed. Holidays are made with this kind of experience that creates a lasting mark in your mind.
Rajarani Music Festival held against the backdrop of the 11th century Rajarani Temple in Bhubaneswar is such an evening of concerts: it’s relaxing, entertaining and uplifting. The city has a large assemblage of celebrated temples of which the Rajarani Temple is one of the most conspicuous. It’s remarkable for the absence any presiding deity in it. The temple is famous for its ornate deul or compass and the statues of eight Dikpals guarding the eight cardinal directions of the temple.
To show case the glorious tradition of Indian classical music, the Rajarani Music Festival was conceived to be organized by the Department of Tourism in association with Bhubaneswar Music Circle.
The musical evenings are resplendent with excellent performances by the great maestros of Indian classical music creating an allegory of darbari gayans (musical performances in an Indian king’s court) of age old histories.
Eminent instrumentalists and vocalists of India have rendered scintillating performance in this festival over the years.
Date |
6.00 – 7.00 PM |
7.00 – 8.00 PM |
26-02-08 |
Hindustani Vocal |
Hindustani Instrumental – Sitar
|
27-02-08 |
Odissi Vocal |
Carnatic Instrumental – Violin |
28-02-08 |
Hindustani Instrumental – Violin
|
Hindustani Vocal |