Chakradhar Samaroh-2024: Padma Shri Anuj Sharma’s Jasgeet and melodious songs enthralled the audience.

In the ninth musical evening of the ten-day Chakradhar Samaroh organized in Raigarh, Bharatnatyam by Padma Shri Devyani from New Delhi and Kathak dance by renowned Kathak dancer Ms. Maya Kulshreshtha mesmerized everyone. Chhattisgarhi folk singing by Padma Shri awardee and MLA Mr. Anuj Sharma kept the audience enthralled till late night. Starting the song with Guru Vandana, he engaged the audience with him by singing Jasgeet in Chhattisgarhi and received a lot of applause. Pradeep Kumar Choubey of Raipur gave a wonderful performance on classical singing and Ms. Palak Devangan on Kathak dance. Vedika Sharan of Bilaspur gave an attractive performance on Kathak dance with expressions and postures on the stage. Ms. Bhumisuta Mishra gave a wonderful performance on Odissi dance.

In the first presentation of the program, Ms. Palak Devangan of Sarangarh presented a very beautiful and captivating Kathak dance. She performed Kathak dance with Shiv Vandana. In the next episode, Pandit Pradeep Kumar Choubey of Raipur presented classical singing. He gave an innovative presentation of classical singing with his raga amidst the beats of tabla and the tune of sarangi. His performance made the audience and listeners feel as if they were listening to a great singer. In the third presentation of the program, Ms. Bhumisuta Mishra of Raipur presented Odissi dance. She won the hearts of the audience with her expressions in Odissi dance. In the cultural evening, Ms. Vedika Sharan of Bilaspur presented an attractive dance with expressions and postures on the stage. Vedika’s beautiful performance in Kathak delighted the audience. She gave an innovative presentation of her artistic dance to the tune of music. 10-year-old Ms. Vedika Sharan is adept at Kathak dance since the age of 6. Her guru is Ms. Anjali Thakur (Lucknow Gharana).
Padma Shri Devyani, who came from New Delhi, mesmerized the audience with her superb Bharatanatyam performance. On the occasion, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Ramdas Athavale honoured her by presenting her a shawl and coconut. It is noteworthy that influenced by the mesmerizing Bharatanatyam performance in a documentary film by Louise Melley, Paris-born Padma Shri Devyani came to India and received formal training in Bharatanatyam from great gurus Shri K.G. Ilappa Mudaliar and Kalaimamani V.S. Muthuswami Pillai. She imbibed the beauty, rhythm and spiritual devotion inherent in the 3000-year-old Bharatanatyam dance style. Devyani gave her first performance not on a stage but in a box office hit South Indian film named ‘A Girl from America’. In this film, she played the main character of a dancer of the Chidambaram temple. Devyani’s dedicated devotion to Bharatanatyam and her sense of dance aesthetics took this dance beyond the borders of India and made it a symbol of harmony, peace and cultural unity throughout the world. Devyani, who was honoured with the ‘First Asian Dancer Artist Award in Residence’ for the promotion of Indian dance and culture in England, has graced the art stages of almost all the major countries of India and the world with her Bharatanatyam anklets, including the birth anniversary of the Queen of Denmark, the United Nations Day celebrations, the Indian Republic celebrations in Germany, prestigious events in France, Germany and Greece, and conducting numerous dance workshops and international seminars. Devyani, who has been honoured with the IMM Top Cultural Ambassador Award for Excellence and the National Women Excellence Award, was honoured with the Padma Shri by the President of India for the unique achievements of Bharatanatyam in the field of art. Padma Shri Devyani is a renowned cultural ambassador of Bharatnatyam in India. She has been awarded many national and international awards and honours.

The country’s renowned Kathak dancer Ms. Maya Kulshreshtha, who came from New Delhi to perform at the Chakradhar Samaroh, won everyone’s heart. She had tied Kathak ghungroos on her feet at the age of 5. After initial education from Guru Mrs. Dr. Monica Shrivas, she received formal education. After MA in Kathak, she also did theatre to strengthen her acting skills. Being connected to social concerns, she has also given place to these subjects in her dance. She has received many national and international awards. Ms. Maya Kulshreshtha has performed more than 500 programs in the country and abroad. Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Mr. Ramdas Athawale honored her by giving her a shawl and coconut.

In the last performance of the program, the audience was sitting with bated breath to listen to Chhattisgarhi folk singing by Chhattisgarhi hero Padmashree Anuj Sharma. As soon as she arrived on the stage of the ceremony, the venue echoed with the thunderous applause of the audience sitting there. Last night, the Ramlila ground looked as if the people of Raigarh city and the surrounding area had come to the venue with their families to see Anuj Sharma. Padmashree Anuj Sharma sang songs like Maat Rahibe Maat Rahibe… Saas Gaari Debe… Nand Chutki Lebe, Sasural Genda Phool… in his familiar style with full enthusiasm and received a lot of applause from the audience. This sequence did not end just like that, but he also sang Chhattisgarhi songs on the demand of the audience. Various Chhattisgarhi songs like Main To Tarsa Tarsa Mar Jaihay… Tor Bina Man Nai Lage Wo, Mor Maya La Nai Jaane Ho… Bane Kare Ram Mola Adhra Bana… Hay Re Dauna Paan… Mor Sang Chalo Ji made the audience dance.