Reported by Santosh Jagdev
Bhubaneswar, Nov 25:

Ahead of President Pranab Mukherjee’s visit to the city on November 29 to attend the Golden Jubilee celebration of Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya here, the Culture department of the Odisha government, teachers, staffs and students of the premier institute are pulling out all stops to make it a grand affair.

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The celebrations begin today and will culminate on November 30.

Briefing mediapersons at a press meet here yesterday, Mahavidyalaya Principal Dr Tamasarani Das Mohapatra said during his visit, the President would felicitate 18 luminaries from various fields who have received Padma and Sangeet Natak Academy Awards. Besides, 147 alumni of the college would also be felicitated during the five-day extravaganza, she said.

Culture Minister Ashok Panda said that the institute, which is completing 50 years of its emergence in the state, is proud to have President Mukherjee on the grand occasion.

The department is working day and night to give the permises a new look, adding some extra features and modifications, underataking renovation work and event management, he said, adding, that the State Government had given ample financial support for the celebrations.

“The Sangeet Mahavidyalaya, the only institute in the State that offers degree courses in the field of performing arts has spent a total of Rs 80 lakhs for preparations, including various beautification and renovation works in view of its Golden Jubilee celebrations. A new Heritage Gate has also been erected at the institute’s premises,” said Culture Secretary Arabinda Padhee.

The five-day celebrations will start with a ‘Sanskruti Yatra’ from the Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya to Rabindra Mandap en route the BDA, Ram Mandir and Master Canteen squares in the morning. Culture Minister Panda will flag off the foot-march in the presence of Departmental Secretary Padhee, Director Sushil Kumar Das, Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena, MLA Bijoy Mohanty and MP Prasanna Patsani along with students of the institute.

Later, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik would inaugurate the event in the evening. On the occasion, he would also inaugurate the Heritage Gate of the institute. Besides, a video documentary on the institute will be released on the first day, informed Mahavidyalaya Principal Dr Das Mohapatra.

The event will include two sessions each day, a lecture session in the morning and a performance session in the evening. Various cultural programmes, including Odissi, Chhau dance, drama, orchestra, classical music, Hindustani vocal music, Talabadya Kachery, etc will be presented by several noted artists on every evening.

Nearly 500 students will participate in the cultural programmes, the organizers said.