Cuttack Mahotsav 2013: A Great Way to Explore Odisha

A lover of music and dance, are you? Wondering where to go this January? Well, let the Cuttack Mahotsav 2013 International Dance and Drama Festival in Cuttack be your destination. One of the oldest cities in the country, it is world famous for its intricate silver filigree work, gorgeous saris, and vivacious festivals and has long been a centre of arts and literature. Photo Credit: Sourav Das / Flickr East Meets West Keeping in tune with tradition, this year’s weeklong festival will celebrate international and Indian dances. Folk dancers from countries as varied as Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and sadda India, will set the floor on fire dancing to the tunes of melodious international and Indian traditional music. We are talking about the likes of Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi, Mohiniattam,  Odissi, Kathak, Manipuri and Sattriya. International styles such as Spanish folk dance presented by Slovakia-based dancers Jana Redechova and Daniela Kudlickova, traditional Sri Lankan dances by Ranranga Dance Academy and Bangladeshi folk dance by Chintak Association, will leave you calling out for an encore. Photo Credit: gorvacho / Wikimedia Photo Credit: Cliff / Flickr With dance, can music be far behind? The mellifluous tunes at the festival will include Odishi and Hindustani vocals, flute and violin performances apart from Sufi sangeet and bhajans.   Centre of Art A visit to the majestic Kala Vikash Kendra, the venue of the Mahotsav, would surely be a high point of your trip to the millennium city. The centre was set up in the year 1952, and celebrated its Diamond Jubilee in November 2012. The Kendra is considered to be the nerve centre of the Odissi dance form. While the first Basantha Pallavi was composed here, dance drama forms of Odissi dance were also conceived here. The Kendra has many established dancers as its alumni and a number of foreign students from Australia, Germany, England, Indonesia, Canada, Italy, France and U.S.A, have trained here.   The Fringe Benefits Soak in to the rich history and atmospherics of Cuttack. The erstwhile capital and largest city of Odisha, located just 30 km away from the capital city of Bhubaneshwar, was once a military establishment. The 1000-year-old ancient metropolis, situated at the beginning of the Mahanadi river delta, has been an important cultural centre since long. Cuttack is known as the city having ‘Babaan Bazaar, Teppan Galee’, which means 52 markets and 53 streets. So if shopping is your thing then definite buys include silver ornaments, colorful textiles and applique work. However, if your stomach leads the way to your heart then mouthwatering dishes such as dahivada, aludam ghuguni and seu will keep you happy. More the Merrier While there, make time to visit the various attractions that Cuttack is famous for. These include the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary, located outside the city and home to a vast variety of flora and fauna; the Cuttack Chandi Temple, one of the most sacred temples of Odisha, on the banks of the river Mahanadi; the Barabati Fort, located 8 km away from the city centre; the island of Dhavaleshwar with its famous Shiva temple, and the Shahi Mosque, known for its impressive architecture. This quaint destination is also famous for its Durga Puja and Dusshera festivals and the Cuttack Baliyatra, or trade fair. Cuttack is well-connected by road, rail and via air.