Toshali Sands

Kelucharan award for Odissi music

Odissi Music has not received the recognition like that of Odissi Dance’, said vocalist Paschimeswar Jena, who received that Guru Kelucharna Mahapatra Award 2002. Bhajan Samarat Anup Jalota handed over the award, which carried cash prize of Rs 25,000 and a Citation, to Jena for his lifetime achievement in Odissi music.

The jury selected Jena for the annual award for his mastery in chhanda, chowpadi gopibhsas and koili. As a teacher of music in the secondary broad high school in Cuttack, Jena continues to uphold the timeless tradition of Odissi music as an intrinsic part of his life.

The award, which has entered its eight year, was instituted by Ratikant Mohapatra, Guruji’s son and director of Srjan in 1995. This award is an effort to encourage artists for their contributions to different art forms and bring them to the forefront.

To mark the occasion, Srjan also organised a grand cultural show at Rabindra Mandap where Anup Jalota kept the audience mesmerized for more than one hour with Bhajans and Ghazals.