THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, AUGUST 28, 2026

The 32nd edition of the prestigious Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award Festival will be held here from September 5 to 9, bringing together some of the country's finest exponents of classical dance, music, theatre and cinema in a five-day celebration dedicated to the enduring legacy of legendary Odissi exponent Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra.

Organised by Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Odissi Nrityabasa in collaboration with Sri Sri University, the festival will be held from 7 pm onwards at Rabindra Mandap in Bhubaneswar. The 32nd edition assumes special significance as it coincides with the birth centenary year celebrations of Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, one of the foremost architects of modern Odissi.

One of Odisha's most prestigious annual cultural events, the festival has over the past three decades emerged as an important platform celebrating artistic excellence, preserving tradition and encouraging creative innovation.

The festival has been curated under the guidance of renowned Guru and artiste Guru Ratikant Mohapatra, Director, Srjan, and Dean, Faculty of Arts, Communication and Indic Studies (FACIS), Sri Sri University. His artistic vision, organisers said, has helped sustain the festival's commitment to excellence, tradition and innovation over the last 31 years.

The Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award 2026 will honour four iconic personalities from India's diverse cultural landscape for their lifetime achievements and outstanding contributions to their respective fields. Veteran artistes Sharon Lowen in Odissi dance, Keshab Chandra Rout in Odissi music, Dhirendranath Mallick in theatre and Mahasweta Ray in cinema will receive the award, comprising a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh and a citation each.

The Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Kala Samman, instituted last year to recognise accomplished artistes in the 40-55 age group, will be presented for the second time this year. Agnimitra Behera, instrumentalist specialising in violin, and Nazia Alam, vocal music exponent, will receive the honour carrying a cash prize of Rs 50,000 and a citation each.

The Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Yuva Pratibha Samman will recognise four emerging artistes whose work reflects the promise of the next generation of Indian classical arts. Odissi dancers Vrinda Chadha and Aishwariya Singhdev, Kathak exponent Nikita Banawalikar and Odissi music-Mardala artiste Soumya Ranjan Nayak will receive the honour, carrying Rs 25,000 and a citation each.

The festival will open on September 5 with a Hindustani vocal recital by Vidushi Shubha Mudgal, accompanied by Dr Aneesh Pradhan on tabla and Sudhir Nayak on harmonium.

On September 6, acclaimed sarod maestro Pt Tejendra Narayan Majumdar will present a sarod recital with Satyajit Talwalkar on tabla, followed by an Odissi performance by Lipsa Satapathy.

The September 7 programme will feature “Saugandhika Haranam”, a choreographed play under the Mārgānātya format by Chidākāsh Kalālay Centre. Choreographed by Dr Piyal Bhattacharya and set to music by Sayak Mitra, the production will bring together elements of dance, theatre and music.

The following evening, September 8, will see acclaimed Bharatanatyam exponent Dr Janaki Rangarajan take the stage. The evening will also feature a flute jugalbandi by Abhiram Nanda and Srinibas Satapathy, accompanied by Yashwant Vaishnav on tabla.

The festival will culminate on September 9 with the Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award Ceremony 2026, followed by the much-awaited finale by the Srjan Ensemble.

The ensemble will present “Māti”, a production inspired by the evocative poetry of iconic Odia poet Radha Mohan Gadanayak. Choreographed by Guru Ratikant Mohapatra, with music composed by Guru Lakshmikant Palit and script adaptation by the late Jaydev Das, “Māti” seeks to retain the distinct character and vocabulary of traditional Odissi choreography while exploring creative possibilities through a contemporary artistic treatment.

The production is enhanced by distinctive visual embellishments and imaginative choreographic treatment, aiming to create a compelling aesthetic experience while remaining rooted in the artistic grammar and spirit of Odissi.

The 32nd Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award Festival is supported by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and the Department of Odia Language, Literature & Culture, Government of Odisha.

MGM Minerals Ltd and Shalimar Chemical Works Pvt Ltd are supporting the festival under their CSR initiatives. Odisha Mining Corporation Ltd (OMC) and Odisha Tourism are the Gold Sponsors, while Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is the Silver Sponsor.

NALCO, MCL, IMFA and Priyadarshini are the Festival Sponsors. Dharitri and Orissa POST are the Media Partners, The Royale Midtown is the Hospitality Partner and Narthaki is the Web Partner.