Smitalay organises ‘SAMSMARANAM’, a tribute to Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, the epochal Odissi dancer. Guruji’s legacy still continues in the form of his countless students who strive to popularize Odissi in India and around the world.

This year’s edition of ‘SAMSMARANAM’ will see Kumkum Lal from Delhi make a presentation of traditional Odissi. Also, Ratikant and Sujata Mohapatra, along with a few other artistes from Srjan, Bhubaneswar, will present some innovative pieces choreographed using Odissi vocabulary by Ratikant Mohapatra.

Donor passes for ‘SAMSMARANAM’ will be available at the venue from April 5, 2007 onwards. Please do make it a point to attend and join us in savouring sweet memories.

Orissa Society of the Americas (OSA) is a non-profit organization that spans United States and Canada. Purpose of OSA is to maintain and propagate cultural heritage of Orissa (an eastern state of India) in the North America among its ~5000 members and the generations to come.

Invited guests
• Chief Minister of Orissa Mr. Naveen Pattanaik,
• Education Minister of Orissa Mr. Nagendra
Pradhan
• Prof. Chandrasekhar Rath, Renowned educationist
• Mr. Sahadev Sahu, President of Non-Resident
Oriyas Foreign Cell (NROFC)
• Paramahamsa Prajñanananda (www.kriya.org)

Convention highlights

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3rd International Odissi Festival is proposed to be held at Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India on Dec. 26-30, 2006.

The event is co-sponsored by Government of India, Government of Orissa and many private corporations.

The theme of the festival is "Odissi - Origin & Beyond". The festival will be dedicated to the memory of late Shri Kelucharan Mohapatra. The festival will also celebrate the Golden Jubilee celebration of Jayantika (The movement and vision behind creating Odissi), and the festival will feature a Home-Coming event for foreign dancers visiting their home or roots.