Mukteswar dance festival, held in Odisha, is the celebration of enthralling charisma of Odissi dance. The festival derives its name from the Mukteswar temple, situated in the city of Bhubaneshwar, which forms the venue for this exquisite festival, organized in the month of January. Performers from all around the globe arrive at the festival for participation. Varied performances including solo, duet and group dances grace the event. Traditional musical instruments accompany the beautiful dance moves while the classic attires augment the beauty of the renditions. It is organized by the Department of Tourism under the Ekamra Utsav which aims to promote the city as a destination for cultural tourism. Mukteswar dance festival continues for three days, form 14th to 16th January.
Venue of Mukteswar Dance Festival
Mukteswar temple forms an excellent destination for hosting the festival, as the temple reveal notable elegance in terms of architecture. Built in 10th century, it is considered as a gem amongst the plethora of temples in the city. Magnificently carved arched gateway or `toran` of the temple are exemplary of the finest Odisha architecture. It is also a testament of the transitional phase of the state architecture, from initial to later stages of Kalinga architectural style. This architecture indeed intensifies the splendour of this cultural event.
During the festival, the temple complex is illuminated with marvellous lightings creating a magical aesthetic ambience. The sculptures forming the backdrop of the stage seems lively amidst the wondrous dance performances and mesmerizing decorations.
Attractions of Mukteswar Dance Festival
During this three day festival, every evening begins with the renditions of leading musicians followed by varied dance performances. The stage is beautifully adorned with lights and flowers and two large screens are also provided for a convenient view of the performances for the audience. The festival focuses on highlighting the beauty and uniqueness of Odissi dance form, which is included among the six acknowledged classical dance forms of India. This dance in fact originated in the temples having its foundation enrooted in religion and philosophy. The performances in the festival mostly focus on the eternal love of Lord Krishna and Radha with a backdrop of the ancient temple which actually cast a magical spell over the viewers. The majesty of this dance finds its expression through beautiful Mudras and Bhangis, which form the distinct style of this form. The rhythmic sounds of the instruments accompanying the dances engulf the complex and the captivating dance performances amidst it transport the viewers to a world of celestial beings. Mukteswar dance festival is an enchanting visual experience which allures a large crowd from far off regions.
