Odissi dancers to mark annual day in Dubai

Italian odissi dancer Ileana Citaristi, saswat Joshi, Vipul and amiya mishra during a Press conference to announce the Utakal Divas in Dubai on Thursday. - Supplied photo

A colourful evening with scintillating performance displaying the vibrancy of the Indian culture is what audience can expect today as the Odisha Samaj UAE (OSUAE), a social organisation comprising people from the Indian state of Odisha, residing in the UAE is celebrating their annual day in Dubai.
The OSUAE, in association with the Consulate-General of India, Dubai and Lasyakala, reputed dance institute of Odisha, is organising Utsav 2018 - Utkal Divas (Odisha Day) celebrations and the 10^th edition of Aekalavya at the Global Indian International School, Al Barsha, Dubai. Entry to the event, that starts from 10am to 5pm, is free for all.
At a Press conference organised by the Indian Consulate in Bur Dubai, Consul-General Vipul said: "We feel happy that we are associating ourselves with this programme that is being held under the India@70 umbrella. It is a privilege to host so many internationally acclaimed artists from Odisha, especially Italian born Odissi dancer Padmashree Dr Ileana Citaristi and Odissi and Sambalpuri dancer and choreographer Saswat Joshi.
Talking about the importance of the event, Amiya Mishra, president of Odisha Samaj UAE, said: "Utkal Divas (Odisha Day) is celebrated on April 1 in Odisha in the memory of the formation of the state as a separate province in 1936. Here in the UAE, it is celebrated on a convenient Friday in the month of April. A splendid display of the best that Odisha has to offer in terms of dance, music, handicrafts, fashion and food is showcased on this day. Local Odia children, men and women will lead the celebrations with their performances." Odisha Samaj is also hosting the 10^th edition of 'Aekalavya', an initiative by Saswat Joshi as a tribute to the 'guru-shishya parampara' (teacher-student tradition). 
Saswat has travelled to Dubai with a 12-member team which includes Odissi legend Padmashri Dr Ileana Citaristi; Anubha Sourya (Odia film actress) and Jagruti Rath (noted Odia TV personality).
"The event today would be the true celebration of Indian classical dance in a foreign land. Not only Odissi but other Indian classical dance forms will be presented on the same stage. During the event, 'Aekalavya Samman 2018' will be given to two prominent Indian classical dance Gurus in Dubai, Guru Nishi Singh for Kathak and Puja Unni for Bharat Natyam," said Joshi.
saman@khaleejtimes.com