OdishaPlus Bureau
As the world prepares to celebrate Rasagola Dibasa on Friday, coinciding with Niladri Bije, the final day ritual of the annual Ratha Jatra festival, Author Subhransu Panda has created a song on Rasagola.
Released on Thursday evening, the song depicts the Jagannatha culture, the temple tradition entangled with Rasagola, and the divine discord between Jagannatha and his wife Laxmi. Panda conceptualised and wrote the song, while Abhijeet Mishra, a Vocalist, composed and sang it.
Subhransu Panda states, “The song is a fusion of medieval-era traditional Odia music and modern composition. Three parts of this song follow the pattern of three traditional songs composed by the great Odia poets Upendra Bhanja, Salabega, and Banamali Dasa. Jaganatha Dasa’s Bhagabata is the sole inspiration for the song’s opening lines. The song also depicts the Dahuka Boli of Ratha Jatra.”
Abhijeet Mishra states, “I was amazed by the lyrics at the first glance. I was with the vibes of this lyrics for more than one and a half years. It was Lord Jagannatha’s blessings and Subhransu Panda’s creative pursuit that made it possible. As a composer I always believe that people will love to go by tradition if packaged properly.”
In an event organised by Odia Media Private Limited at Jayadev Bhawan, Bhubaneswar, Minister of Odia Language Literature & Culture Department Suryabanshi Suraj and Odissi Vocalist Padma Shri Shyamamani Devi shared the stage as guests.
A short film directed by Panda depicting the complete song shoot in different locations in Puri, Konark and Bhubaneswar was also screened at the event. Famous Odissi dance Guru Saswat Joshi and his students performed the song live on stage, depicting the age-old tradition of offering Rasagola as Prasad in Puri shrine.
Earlier, the author-musician duo Panda and Mishra made two songs, respectively, for Chhenapoda and Odia Language.
