EDISON, N.J. — The 14th edition of Kelucharan Guna Keertanam 2026 brought together dancers, gurus and art enthusiasts for an evening dedicated to preserving and advancing the Odissi dance tradition in the United States.
Presented on May 31 at the ITV Gold Auditorium, the festival was curated by New Jersey-based Odissi exponent Dr. Aparupa Chatterjee, a leading disciple of the Sri Kelucharan Mohapatra gharana. Following the traditional Guru-Shishya parampara, the event featured performances by 67 U.S.-based dancers and two invited solo artists presenting choreographic works in Odissi, Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam.
The recital opened with an invocation by the budding dancers of the Odissi Dance Company, who performed Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra’s choreography dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, followed by an invocation seeking the blessings of Lord Ganesha. Dancers from New York also joined the celebration marking the centennial year of the legendary maestro.
The festival featured a performance by OSA Kalashree awardee Guru Smt. Bani Ray, artistic director of Trinayan Collective. Ray presented an excerpt from Suryashtakam, a salutation to the Sun God choreographed by Padma Shri Guru Durga Charan Ranbir, introducing audiences to the rich tradition of Guru Shri Debaprasad Das Gharana. Her students followed with a presentation of Mokshya in Raag Bhairavi and Taal Ektali.
The audience also enjoyed presentations by guest performers representing New Jersey’s renowned dance institutions. Students from Kathak maestro Guru Pandita Archana Jogelekar’s Archana Arts and Kuchipudi maestro Guru Swathi Atluri-Gundapuneedi’s Siddhendra Kuchipudi Art Academy demonstrated discipline and maturity in their respective classical forms.
The program further highlighted contemporary and traditional Odissi works. Tanvi Prasad, a disciple of Chatterjee from California, presented Still She Fights, a contemporary choreography by Guru Anindita Ganguly and Chatterjee that conveyed Mother Earth’s plea for environmental preservation through expressive storytelling.
An invocatory rendition of Dashamahavidya’s Matangi, choreographed by Guru Shri Ratikant Mohapatra, was performed by Ranjabali Dey Banerjee a disciple Shri Rajib Bhattacharya and Dr. Chatterjee. The Odissi Dance Company’s wellness program students offered a rhythmic presentation dedicated to Lord Shiva, while senior students performed Chandana Charchita, an Ashtapadi from Gita Govinda choreographed by Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra.
The evening’s guest of honor, Edison Councilman Biral Patel, represented Mayor Sam Joshi and honored Chatterjee for her contributions in advancing the Odissi tradition through performance, entrepreneurship and dance pedagogy. She was also recognized for her decade-long service as artistic director of the Odissi Dance Company.
The festival also honored distinguished members of the cultural fraternity, including Guru Smt. Archana Jogelekar, Guru Smt. Swathi Atluri, Guru Smt. Bani Ray, Guru Smt. Mitali Bhowmik, Guru Smt. Sonal Jhaveri and Guru Pt. Samir Chatterjee.
A highlight of the evening was the performance by Vidushi Smt. Sujata Mohapatra, Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee and daughter-in-law of Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra. Widely regarded as one of the foremost torchbearers of the maestro’s legacy, she opened with an invocation to Lord Vishnu through the stotram Shantakaram Bhujaga Shayanam.
She was joined by her student, Dr. Chatterjee, and senior students of the Odissi Dance Company, symbolizing the continuity of the guru’s tradition across generations and continents.
Mohapatra then delivered a technically refined solo presentation of Megh Pallavi, choreographed by Guru Shri Ratikant Mohapatra, followed by Sakhi He, an Ashtapadi from Jayadev’s Gita Govinda. Her subtle expressions and sculptural movements captivated the audience, seamlessly evoking both devotion and romantic sentiment.
She concluded with Kede Chanda Jane Lo Sahi, an abhinaya based on Kalidasa’s Ritusamhara, in which she portrayed the contrasting emotions of Mother Yashoda and the playful Lord Krishna. Her nuanced storytelling and emotional depth held the audience spellbound.
The festival underscored not only Chatterjee’s growth as an artist and mentor but also the Odissi Dance Company’s commitment to preserving and promoting the Sri Kelucharan Mohapatra gharana in America. Guided by the teachings of her gurus, Chatterjee and the Odissi Dance Company continue working to empower women and young artists while creating a lasting legacy for Odissi dance in the Americas.
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