Bhubaneswar, Jan 7: The birth centenary of Padma Vibhushan Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, the legendary exponent of Odissi dance, will be celebrated from January 8 to 10 under the banner “Kelucharan Keerti Shatakam.” The three-day programme is being jointly organised by the Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Odissi Research Centre and Srjan, under the aegis of the Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department.

The celebrations will be held at the Odissi Research Centre and Rabindra Mandap, featuring a series of events that highlight the life, legacy and unparalleled contribution of Guru Mohapatra to Odissi dance. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi will inaugurate the programme at the Odissi Research Centre as chief guest.

As part of the centenary observance, floral tributes will be offered to the guru, accompanied by a photo exhibition depicting different phases of his life and artistic journey. A short documentary film on his contribution to Odissi and the activities of the Odissi Research Centre will be released, along with the launch of the Centre’s official website.

Rabindra Mandap will host panel discussions and cultural evenings over three days, focusing on Guru Mohapatra’s legacy. His disciples will share personal experiences and deliberate on the aesthetics of Odissi, its role in Odia culture, and its promotion at national and international levels.

Eminent Odissi dancers including Guru Ratikant Mohapatra, Padma Shri Kumkum Mohanty, Padma Shri Madhavi Mudgal, and Padma Shri Priyambada Mohanty Hejmadi, along with several distinguished artistes, will participate in the celebrations. They will present dance performances in tribute to the guru, whose artistry and teaching shaped generations of Odissi practitioners and elevated the dance form to global recognition.

The centenary programme aims to reaffirm Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra’s enduring influence on Odissi dance and its place in India’s cultural heritage, while inspiring younger generations to carry forward his vision of classical excellence rooted in tradition yet open to innovation.