Nritya Pragnya Utsav 2026: Lucky Pragnya Dazzles Bhubaneswar!

Subscribe to Our WhatsApp Channel

Join Our Telegram Channel

Bhubaneswar: (Report- Lipika Rani Raut): The city of Bhubaneswar hosted a grand cultural event recently. Organisers named this beautiful event the Nritya Pragnya Utsav 2026. The famous Bhanja Kala Mandap venue welcomed many art lovers on April 24. The evening program started exactly at 6:00 PM. Lucky Pragnya delivered a stunning performance on stage. Her graceful dancing captured the hearts of everyone in the audience. 

Distinguished Guests in Attendance

Padma Shri awardee Dr. Shyamamani Devi Pattnaik attended the festival as the chief guest. She graced the special occasion with her presence. Many other highly respected leaders joined her at the venue to watch the dances. The distinguished guests included: 

• Sudhakar Bargi: Chairman of the Odisha Staff Selection Commission, 
• Suchismita Mantri: Deputy Director of the Odia Language, Literature, and Culture Department.
• Himanshu Shekhar Nayak: Chairman of the Udaan Foundation.
• Dr. Shantanu Kumar Rath: Former Director of All India Radio and Doordarshan.
• Guru Dhaneswar Swain: Famous Odissi Mardal player and Sangeet Natak Akademi award winner.
• Lieutenant Colonel Sonali Rath: Former President of Rotary International.
• Jitendriya Mohanty: Company Secretary of OREDA.

Captivating Dance Performances

Many talented artists performed on the stage. The legendary Odissi dance guru, Padma Shri Dr. Kumkum Mohanty, led the artistic showcase. Dancers from several famous groups traveled to join the festival. These groups included Navapratibha from Puri, the Gita Govinda Charitable Trust, the Nritya Pragnya Charitable Trust from Cuttack, and the Aradhana Dance Academy from Bhubaneswar. 

The artists performed three distinct traditional dance forms. They presented the classic Odissi dance first. They also performed the ancient Devadasi dance. Finally, they showcased the energetic Gotipua dance. These traditional styles clearly display the rich culture of Odisha.

Honoring a Legend

The organizers planned a very special moment for the evening. They introduced a brand new award this year. They named it the "Nritya Pragnya Samman 2026". The organizers presented the very first award to Padma Shri Dr. Kumkum Mohanty. They celebrated her lifetime of dedication to Odissi dance. She accepted the great honor happily. 

A Successful Conclusion

A massive crowd filled the auditorium. The audience cheered loudly for the dancers. They completely enjoyed the beauty of the traditional arts. At the end of the night, Lucky Pragnya Pratisthita Mohanty gave a speech. She serves as the Chairman of the Nritya Pragnya Charitable Trust. Sasmita Parida, the Secretary of the trust, also spoke to the crowd. Both leaders thanked the guests, the talented artists, and the wonderful audience. They expressed their joy over the highly successful cultural festival.