Konark Dance Festival leaves audience mesmerized

Konark (Odisha) [India], Dec. 5 (ANI): The five-day long Konark Dance Festival, which kick-started From December 1, has attracted renowned dance experts and lovers from all across the world. Ashok Chandra, Odisha's Cultural and Tourism Minister, described the festival as a one of its kind, featuring different classical and traditional dance forms performed by distinguished dancers from across the country. The first day was all about dance forms Odissi and Kuchipudi performed by Chennai's Madhavi Mudgal and Kishore Musolkanti and Group? Mohiniattam and Odissi stole the show on the second day of the fest. The audiences were left mesmerised. Kathak was the theme on day four, which, as in is a beautiful dance form and solaced the audience by its balanced style. There are tourists from all across the world, who felt privileged to be able to witness the festival celebrations and be a part of the same. Smita Mishra, a visitor, said, "We eagerly wait for this international festival which is held in Odisha's Konark every year. Odishi is a compulsory dance form to be performed in the fiorst part of the show whereas the second part consists of other dance forms such as Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Maipuri, Kuchipudi etc." "I have specially come to Konark to be a part of this festival. It is absolutely wonderful," Monika, a resident of France, said. "The stage of the Konark Dance Festival is unique in itself and cannot find the same anywhere else in the world. The Bharatnatyam performance was of the highest order," said Priyamvatha. The last day of the Konark Dance Festival, December 5 will be marked by recital by foreign classical dance group from Indonesia sponsored by ICCR, Pitambar Biswal Group and there would also be Kolkata's Priti Patel and Group performing Manipuri. Tourism Department Director Nitin Bhanudas Jawale informed that an estimated budget of Rs.93 lakhs will be spent for the festival. (ANI)