7th Barnali Festival: Rudrakshya Foundation’s ‘Samudra Manthan’

The 7th edition of two-day-long Barnali Festival concluded on a grand note at Utkal Rangamanch in Bhubaneswar on Friday, 14th February 2025.

Organised by Rudrakshya Foundation, one of the premier Odissi dance institution of the state founded by Guru Bichitrananda Swain in 2000, the festival was dedicated to the late master architect and planner, Prof. Christopher Charles Benninger.

Prof. Benninger, an American who made India his home for over half a century was an architect, educator and urbanist. With Ramprasad Akkisetti, whom he met in 1993, he set up Christopher Charles Benninger Architects (CCBA) in Pune. One of the most celebrated architects of India, Benninger had been a guiding force behind Rudrakshya Foundation till 2024, the year when he left for his heavenly abode.

Lighting the auspicious lamp ceremony of the concluding evening had eminent Odissi vocalist and musicologist Guru Ramahari Das and co-founder of CCBA and president of Rudrakshya Foundation, Ramprasad Akkisetti as esteemed guests.

While addressing the gathering, Akkisetti said it should be the people’s responsibility to preserve our rich tradition of art and culture.

“In pursuit of this goal, my architecture firm, CCBA Designs, has designed a beautiful campus for Rudrakshya Academy. This campus will include spaces for performance, practice and housing for dancers, much like a gurukul. We are doing this pro bono,” he said. Event Details: Date: 13th & 14th February 2025

Day: Thursday & Friday Time: 06:30 pm onwards Venue:  Utkal Rangamancha, Odissi Research Centre, Bhubaneswar