Last month, the audience at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra’s Sri Sri Madhabdev International Auditorium were treated to an evening of Sattriya Ojapali – ‘Sampurna Apaal Poda Gowa‘, which was enacted for the first time by an all-female troupe, led by the versatile Sattriya exponent Kashmiri Hazarika Kakati. Eminent scholars, gurus and danseuses, including renowned danseuse and Padma Vibhushan awardee Dr Sonal Mansingh attended the event. Presented by Krishnam, the evening also saw the presentation of the Mahapurush Sri Sri Sankardeva Sri Sri Madhavdeva Award 2017.
The cultural evening started with the lighting of the traditional lamp by the Satridhikar of the Uttar Kamalabari Satra, Janardan Devagoswami.
Nrityacharya Jatin Goswami, praised Kashmiri Hazarika Kakati and the team of performers. It was the first time that a complete performance of Sattriya Ojapali or what is viewed as Apaal Poda Gowa, has been enacted on stage. ‘It’s very difficult to execute Sampurna Poda Gowa, but Kashmiri Hazarika Kakati and her associates have accomplished the impossible and for that, they deserve every praise and appreciation.’
The versatile Kashmiri Hazarika Kakati, has performed in cultural functions held in various parts of the country and abroad, including the Rongali Bihu Festival held in Quwait in 2015 where she performed with guru Ramkrishna Talukdar, followed by a solo Sattriya recital – ‘Nritya Bharati – 2015’ in California, in the city of Los Angeles, USA, where she performed with renowned classical dance exponent Sobha Dhananjay. Kashmiri was conferred with the Satyabhama Yuva Dance Artiste Award while participating in the Bharatiya Yuva Shastriya Samaroh, held in Visakhapatnam in 2015.
The cultural function also included an award presentation. Gopiram Oja Barbayan, Uttar Kamalabari Sattra’s renowned Guru, and Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee, was honoured with the Mahapurush Sri Sri Sankardeva and Sri Sri Madhavdeb award for his outstanding contribution to the field of Sattriya. He was presented with a gamocha, a citation, memento and Rs 10,000 in cash.
The programme was anchored by popular star Kopil Bora, with Rani Dutta Baruah providing the costumes, and Kishore Kalita doing the make-up.
By Prantik Deka
