Ramli Ibrahim and Geethika Sree enthral audiences with soul-stirring Odissi

Bhubaneswar: The fourth evening of the International Odissi Dance Festival witnessed a spiritually elevating and aesthetically rich performance by renowned Odissi exponent and Padma Shri awardee Guru Ramli Ibrahim, accompanied by accomplished dancer Geethashri at Rabindra Mandap.

The duo mesmerised the audience with their evocative presentation of “Mangala Charan Harihar,” an offering dedicated to Mother Earth (Dharitri Ma). Set to Pahadi and Darbari ragas and choreographed in Ektali tala, the performance created a deeply devotional and emotionally charged ambience in the auditorium.

Commencing with bhumi pranam and floral offerings to Mother Earth, Ramli Ibrahim and Geethashri artistically brought alive the cosmic forms of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva through Odissi movements, sculpturesque postures and expressive mudras. Their seamless coordination and spiritual depth drew prolonged applause from the audience. The performance concluded with sabha pranam, marking a graceful culmination of the recital.

Speaking after the performance, Ramli Ibrahim and Geethashri said it was their privilege to present the Mangala Charan by venerating Dharitri Ma and portraying the divine forms of Vishnu and Mahadev through the classical Odissi vocabulary, adding that the response from the audience was deeply gratifying.

Earlier in the programme, artistes from various institutions presented a series of Odissi items including pallavis, abhinaya and group performances, enriching the festival with diversity. The festival featured performances such as Kalabati Pallavi, Arabhi Pallavi, Shankarabharanam Pallavi and several abhinaya compositions by emerging and established dancers.

The evening was graced by several dignitaries including Principal Secretary, Commerce and Transport Department, Usha Padhee, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, MSME Department, D. Prashant Kumar Reddy, Secretary, Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department, Dr. Bijay Ketan Upadhyaya, Special Secretary Deba Prasad Dash, Deputy Director Suchismita Mantri, eminent Odissi gurus Sujata Mohapatra and Meera Das, among others.

The International Odissi Dance Festival continues to celebrate Odisha’s rich classical dance heritage, bringing together maestros and young talents on a common platform.