Bhubaneswar, March 1: While housands of devotees thronged the Pachima Sambhu Somnath Temple at Harirajpur for holy ‘Trayodashi Darshan’ on Sunday, Gayaka Sameer, Harihara Samantroy’s Pala based on the ‘Kumar Sambhavam’ enthralled visitors in the day.
Samantroy, an ace Pala artist of the state, with his troupe performed the Odia poetic version of the ‘Kumarasamvabam’, the greatest creation of godly poet Kalidas on the stage set in the Paschima Sambhu Somnath temple premises.
Renowned folk artist Samantroy, who used to perform street shows (pala) based on public awareness and sensitize mass regarding social dogmas, awakened the visitors on Anshughata (Sunstroke) that’s coming ahead. With poetic tips he elaborated how to prevent and beat fatal sunstrokes during the coming days, adopting some simpler practices.
Apart from it, he attracted public attention through his moral verses, to respect & take care of the elderly parents & senior citizens respecting them as moving Gods. Similarly, with contemporary poetic similes and duets Samantroy underlined social issues including road mishaps, dowry torture, sorcery, HIV Aids, multiple marriage, cruelty towards women, environment pollution and communal harmony, during his play and appealed mass to address them unitedly.
Citing Lord Jagannath as an epitome of Odia Culture & Odia Asmita, he preached one & all to love and serve the mankind and be kind & merciful even for animals. Meanwhile, with devotional hymns and Ashirvachan (blessings), he urged the spectators to love and respect their mother tongue and motherland with deep devotion and dedicate towards the nation with good karmas(deeds).
Amid the show, Sarat Dalei, a devotee recognized the folk critic offering a traditional shawl and an ‘Agnyamala’ of Lord Sambhu Somanath, as a token of regard.
Hailing from historic Barimula village under the Pipili Block limit in the Puri district, Samantroy has been persistently contributing his eminence to Odia literature & cultural heritage. Based on his musical excellence, he has been awarded as Kantha Ratna, Kalanidhi & Gayaka Sudhanshu, by scores of cultural outfits.
Along with preserving the Pala cult, Samantroy has been authoring spiritual books on Odianisation, Lord Jagannath cult & human-values. Among other handouts, his creation ‘Bhakti Panchmruta’ and ‘Manaba Darpana’ have acknowledged immeasurable readers’ applauds.
Interacting with media following the cultural show, the elderly maestro said, “I have dedicated myself under the feet of Lord Jagannath. I have been performing traditional Pala since my early youth as a passion. With it, I am indebted to the Lord and feel quite elated to entertain people with valuable moral lessons quoted from epics and mythologies.”
“With the evolution of the society, I have now to erase myths, blind believes, social evils and superstitions that pollute pious human environment. It’s why, I have changed the approach of the ancient pala, a bit societal with instilling moral values and highlighting contemporary socio-religious issues, amidst Pala performances. With the government’s aid, we are playing them across societies, to do away with social evils and violence as mass awareness programs”, he added.
Worth mentioning, when the historic ‘Harirajpur Melana’ festivity is round the corner, the Trayodashi rituals of Lord Sambhu Somnath here witnessed thousands of visitors today who offered obeisance to the deities for personal & family wellbeing.
