New Delhi: BHOOMI PRANAM 2018 – an evening of Odissi Dance was organised by Association for Learning Performing Arts and Normative Action (A.L.P.A.N.A.) at Main Auditorium, India International Centre (IIC), New Delhi where Disha Kannan, senior disciple of Guru Alpana Nayak made her debut as solo Odissi dancer through Manch Pravesh and "Shunya se Shunya tak - Pancha Mahabhoota": a group choreography in Odissi style was presented. A.L.P.A.N.A.is registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860 since 2003.
The Society aims at promotion of performing arts and working towards equitable human development and growth. The emphasis is on inclusive growth and composite heritage.
Mrs. Shovana Narayan Traxl, Padmashri & Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee, Eminent Kathak Danseu, HE Mrs. Brigitte Oeppinger Walchshofer, The Ambassador of Austria in India and Ms Sharon Lowen, Eminent Odissi Dance Exponent & Scholar were the Distinguished Guests of the evening. After the lighting of ceremonial lamp by the guests the performances started.
Traditionally an Odissi dance recital starts with Mangalacharana, where the dancer dedicates herself to the Almighty and begs forgiveness from Mother Earth for stamping feet on her, begs apology from the audience for any shortcomings and pays obeisance and seeks blessings from her Guru. In Mangalacharana Miss Disha Kannan began with “Vakra Tunda Maha Kaya.......” – a prayer to Lord Ganesha, the destroyer of all obstacles, the God of Wisdom and the God of Dance.
The next item presented by Disha was Kirvani Pallavi. The word “Pallavi” has been derived from the Sanskrit word “pallava”, which means the bud of a leaf, or the shoots of a tree, which are very tender. As a small seed grows gradually into a large tree, in Pallavi, a tune is sung in a particular raga and it develops gradually into different varieties. In this item equal importance is given to dance as well as music and rhythm. Disha’s Pallavi was based on Raga Kirvani and Tala Khemta. Her movements in this item were extremely graceful and lyrical and her postures were as perfect as sculptures in the temples of Odisha.
Then Disha presented an Odia Abhinaya “To Lagi Gopa Danda Mana Re Kalia Suna………….” written by 18th century poet Gopal Krushna Pattanaik. In this song Radha is saying Krishna that only because of him, it has become impossible for her to move on the streets of Gopa pura and to go to river Yamuna. Mischievous Krishna is always in his playful vagabond mood and troubles everybody with his naughtiness and pranks while Radha is torn between her love for him and the societal norms which she is scared of transgressing. Disha’s abhinay was so mesmerising that she received huge round of applause from the audience.
Then Miss Disha enthralled audience with another abhinay "Shreeta Kamala Kucha Mandala…." which is an excerpt from “Geetagovinda” written by the great Oriya Poet Jayadeva. In this poem the poet has hailed the glory of Lord Vishnu, who wears earrings of precious stones and beautifully designed garland, who is the killer of the poisonous Kaliya snake, whose vehicle is Garuda-the king of birds, who as Rama married Sita and killed the demon Dushan and the ten-headed Ravana. The poet prays for the glorification of the Lord.
After Disha’s scintillating solo performances eight senior disciples of Guru Smt. Alpana Nayak such as Prapti Gupta, Shubhanshi Pandey, Anoushka Agrawal, Disha Kannan, Yastika Dhawan, Pragati Malik, Pihu Shrivastava & Akankshya Satapthy presented "Shunya se Shunya tak - Pancha Mahabhoota": a group choreography in Odissi style.
Panchabhuta – the five basic elements of the entire universe such as earth, water, air, fire and space- create, nurture and nourish life but at the same time they also have the potential to destroy it.
The Ballet was Conceived, Choreographed and Directed by Guru Smt Alpana Nayak and Music Composition was done by Shri Prasanta Behera and Shri Prafulla Mangaraj. The accompanists were Sri Prasanta Behera (Vocalist), Sri Prafulla Mangaraj (Pakhawaj), Sri Dhiraj Pandey and Sri Ramesh Chandra Das (Violin)
All the guests of the evening praised Disha for her elegant postures, beautiful abhinaya and wished her luck for her bright future as an accomplished Odissi dancer. Mrs. Shovana Narayan Traxl, Padmashri & Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee, Eminent Kathak Danseu and Ms Sharon Lowen, Eminent Odissi Dance Exponent & Scholar appreciated the group choreography "Shunya se Shunya tak - Pancha Mahabhoota" very much. They also hailed the role of the brilliant musicians to make the performances so beautiful.
