An evening dedicated to the spirit of Odissi

For Odissi dancer Avirup Sengupta, performing in Odisha is always an emotional and enriching experience. Deeply rooted in the classical dance form, he says that presenting Odissi in Bhubaneswar, the cultural heartland of the dance tradition, feels like coming home.Recently, Avirup and his troupe took to the stage in Bhubaneswar with captivating performances of Durga Stuti and Vande Mataram, choreographed by Riddhi Bondopadhyay. The evening became even more special when he was felicitated by Padma Shri Pratibha Prahlad, an honour he received with immense gratitude. The audience was equally mesmerised by the performances of young dancers Anita, Puja, Debika, Sanchi, and Sayantani, making it a memorable celebration of Odissi.

"Odissi is a way of life for me, and Bhubaneswar is where its soul resides. Dancing there is always an honour, a joy and a reminder of why I fell in love with this art form. Odissi is not just a dance form for me; it is my spiritual anchor," said Avirup.