The cultural secretariat of Maharashtra Government  organised a three days Lok Utsav festival  at Mumbai Marathi Sahitya Sangh auditorium, Girgaum, on Friday 29th to Sunday 31st July 2022.

The programme was part of the "Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat" that integrates performing art forms of different states in order to propagate the message of Unity In Diversity. Lok Utsav festival focused on art forms of Maharashtra and Orissa featuring top artists.

The festival commenced with folk dances of Orissa presented by Dr Mohit Kumar Swein and his troupe. The programme commenced with a male singer, singing songs of invocation and celebration, followed with another female singer. It was exciting to watch young girls colourfully attired, dancing to percussion rhythmic beats with fine uniformity.

Folk dances are normally performed for the people, by the people and of the people. The dances signify the unity of men and women, performed in any social or religious occasion. The first dance performed was 'Dal Khai nritya" performed by five girls to the rhythmic percussion drum music played by seven drummers, colourfully attired. The drummers were dancers too and at times dance along with the young girls. This particular dance has a social message as the young girls pray to god for the long life of their brothers.  The dancers hail from West Orissa, particularly Sambalpur. 

The music essentially consisted of vocal music, flute music and the percussion music of drums, dhol and daph, which were played with sticks and with hands also. The dances were simple movements, jumping and moving around in circles and movements where the hands were interlocked with each other, dancing in fine harmony with rhythmic beats that was throbbing the entire atmosphere, the audience applauded the vivacious dancers. 

The next performer of the evening was the elegant classical Odissi dance performance by Shubhada Varadkar and her distinct disciples Mitali Varadkar and Shreya Sabharwal., the second day of the festival  featured Odissi Bhakti sangeet by Manoj kumar Panda and troupe, followed with Bhakti sangeet by popular singer Sanjeevini Bhelande and the final day of three days festival  featured folk arts by Rakesh Shirke and his group and finale performance was Odissi dance performance by Basantkumar Pradha and his group.

Saurabh Vijay, secretary of the cultural department and organiser Bibhishan Chavre of the cultural secretariat  announced that the  Lok Utsav was organised to enhance the spirit and promote Indian classical and  folk art forms and for national integrations through art forms.

By Guru Vijay Shanker