Bhubaneswar, Feb 13: The valedictory evening of the 16th Dhauli Kalinga Mahotsav was really a splendid one leaving the connoisseurs mesmerized with Indian classical, martial and contemporary dance performance.

Dhauli Kalinga Mahotsav presented by Department of Tourism, Government of Odisha and organised by Orissa Dance Academy & Art Vision, Bhubaneswar concluded here on Wednesday night.

The programme started with Mardala Badana by Guru Satchidananda Das & Group (Mardeli, Bhubaneswar). His effortless execution of melodious strokes in Mardala enchanted the audience.

Second programme of the evening was Bharatnatyam dance by Rama Vaidyanathan (Ganesa Natyalaya, New Delhi). Their first presentation was Bodhana is an invocatory composition written by Maanikka Vaachakar and music composition by Sudha Raghuraman followed by Bhayili Piya is a hindi bhajan where a nayika spends a whole night expressing her love for Lord Krishna. Their last presentation was Bindu is only when the two forces integrate that the sacred point of creation. When both Siva and Shakti engage in intimacy, it is like the sun and the moon uniting.

Concluding item of the concluding evening was Mayurbhanj Chhau by Bibhudatta Das & Group (Maa Vairabi Chhau Nrutya Pratisthan, Mayurbhanj) presented War Dance popularly known as Ruk Maar was conceptualized in the early year of evolution of Mayurbhanj Chhau. This dance was performed during Republic Day celebration at Rashtrapati Bhawan followed by Khatriya Bandhu is the war techniques of the Khatriya community. The martial techniques and use of props in the dance is spellbound the audiences till the end.