Classical dance fest dedicated to Swacchh Bharat campaign

Mesmerising renditions of classical dance forms like Manipuri, Sattriya and Kathak were showcased during the first day of the 'Jivan Pani' Memorial Festival here.
The twelfth edition of the two-day festival, which began last evening has been conceived by classical dancer Sonal Mansingh, Themed on 'Abhilasha' the festival is dedicated to the Swacchh Bharat campaign.
The invocation of the divine through Vedic chanting of Sama-veda by the scholars, Rishiraj and Muniraj Pathak, was followed by Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma felicitating Priyambada Mohanty Hejmadi, a scholar of Odissi dance with Jivan-Ratna award.
Sharma, who was the chief guest for the evening, congratulated Mansingh, for celebrating and preserving the Indian traditions, especially the Guru-Shishya parampara, through the festival.

"I congratulate Sonal Mansingh for preserving the Indian traditions for which we are known for in the world," Sharma said.
Also extending his support to the initiative of cleaning India through performing arts, Sharma said, "I am pleased to extend my support to this noble initiative. Through this festival, she has shown how swachhata can be manifested through performing arts."

Sharma, said he will be visiting Odisha on March 20 and 21.
"I will be going to Odisha on March 20 and 21. I will be going to Puri and Jagannath temple," he said.
Upholding the importance of keeping one's mind, soul and thoughts clean, dancers Sanjib Bhattacharya, Dipjyoti Das and Quincy Kendell Charles successfully combined classical dance forms with contemporary techniques setting the stage on fire.

The second day of the festival, which will come to an end today, will have a choral singing by children from sitar maestro Pandit Shubhendra Rao's foundation, followed by a classical duet on sitar and cello by the master himself accompanied by his wife Saskia Rao-de Haas.