The Dance India Forgot: The Rediscovery of Odissi
·
·
Odissi, once on the verge of disappearance, has re-established itself as a globally recognized classical dance form. For centuries, it remained within temple sanctuaries, deeply tied to ritual traditions; but colonial-era restrictions and evolving social structures led it to near-extinction by the early-20th century.
Its revival was led by four eminent gurus—Kelucharan Mohapatra, Pankaj Charan Das, Deba Prasad Das, and Mayadhar Raut—who meticulously reconstructed its movements by studying temple sculptures, palm-leaf manuscripts, and oral traditions.
Institutions like Nrityagram introduced ensemble choreography, taking it beyond its solo format and onto contemporary stages and training new generations of dancers.
The structure of Odissi remains deeply rooted in its classical foundation, characterized by two defining postures:
Chowk, a symmetrical stance symbolizing strength, and Tribhangi, a three-bend posture that gives Odissi its fluidity. The torso moves independently from the lower body, the hands and eyes articulate intricate mudras, and the feet establish rhythmic patterns in-sync with the mardala, Odissi’s principal percussion instrument.
Dancers inhabit multiple characters, conveying narratives of longing, devotion, and surrender through subtle facial expressions and controlled gestures. Much of Odissi’s abhinaya is drawn from Gita Govinda, a 12th-century text written by Jayadeva.
Performers wear Sambalpuri or Bomkai silk saris, pleated for fluid movement, paired with finely crafted silver jewelry. The mukoot (headpiece) echoes temple architecture, while alta(red dye) on the hands and feet accentuates gestures.
Odissi has continued to evolve through distinct gharanas. Kelucharan Mohapatra’s style emphasizes sculptural grace, Deba Prasad Das’s retains folk and tribal influences, while Pankaj Charan Das’s approach remains close to the meditative Mahari tradition.
Archival footage, online masterclasses, and international tours have ensured that Odissi is no longer limited by geography. From classical festivals in India to global arts platforms, the dance continues to evolve while staying true to its origins.
Comments
Susan Morgan —
Get rid of all kinds of Herpes and virus infections, Diabetes, Hepatitis A B C, with Natural Roots and Herbs, i was once infected with HERPES and after using Dr. Spiritual Herbal Medicine for couple of weeks i couldn’t trace it anymore, i even went for checkup and my test came out Negative. Get your cure today from this wonderful herbalist, Dr. Spiritual You can also reach Dr. Spiritual WhatsApp +2347055029151 Email:- swordofspirit096@gmail.com m
Charles Coffey —
LORD BUBUZA LOTTERY SPELL MADE ME A WINNER: My name is Charles Coffey, I’m 81 years old, an Officer of the Order of Canada who has spent a lifetime standing for good causes. Yet today, I’m lost for words to thank Lord Bubuza the great lottery spell caster. I played Lotto Max for years but never won. My wife begged me to stop wasting money, and it broke my heart. One day, while searching online about life after retirement, I found people praising Lord Bubuza for helping them win the lottery. I decided to contact him through WhatsApp. He responded kindly and told me what was needed to cast a lottery spell. Just two hours after he completed the spell, Lord Bubuza sent me 7 numbers and a bonus number. I played them immediately and to my greatest surprise, I won $1,000,000. Lord Bubuza brought joy and hope back into my life when I needed it most. I will forever be grateful to him. Please join me in appreciating the great SPELL CASTER via email: Lordbubuzamiraclework@hotmail.com or WhatsApp: +1 (365) 808 5313
Charles Coffey —
LORD BUBUZA LOTTERY SPELL MADE ME A WINNER: My name is Charles Coffey, I’m 81 years old, an Officer of the Order of Canada who has spent a lifetime standing for good causes. Yet today, I’m lost for words to thank Lord Bubuza the great lottery spell caster. I played Lotto Max for years but never won. My wife begged me to stop wasting money, and it broke my heart. One day, while searching online about life after retirement, I found people praising Lord Bubuza for helping them win the lottery. I decided to contact him through WhatsApp. He responded kindly and told me what was needed to cast a lottery spell. Just two hours after he completed the spell, Lord Bubuza sent me 7 numbers and a bonus number. I played them immediately and to my greatest surprise, I won $1,000,000. Lord Bubuza brought joy and hope back into my life when I needed it most. I will forever be grateful to him. Please join me in appreciating the great SPELL CASTER via email: Lordbubuzamiraclework@hotmail.com or WhatsApp: +1 (365) 808 5313
sandra benard —
For every ailment or disease, there exist natural herbs capable of providing complete recovery without any adverse effects. I have personally had numerous positive experiences with the herbal medicine I procured from Dr Aigbomian, which successfully eradicated my issue with the herpes virus. I am particularly impressed with the efficacy of these herbal products and would highly recommend them to anyone seeking a remedy for the herpes virus or other health conditions. here are his contact information, WhatsApp:+2349153323194
email: draigbomianherbalhome3@gmail.com
Michael Weirsky —
Good day viewers, I wish to share my testimony with you all. I have daily 9 to 5 jobs, but while I work, I try my luck at playing instant Lotto. On this particular day, I decided to seek help online regarding tips for winning the lottery and I saw many individuals testifying about Meduza spells. I reached out to him and informed him that I needed help to win the lottery, and he clarified the process to me stating that after he casts the spell, it will take 48 hours for him to provide me the winning numbers which I accepted. I followed all his instructions, and he provided me with the numbers to enter the Lottery. After the draw the following morning, I received a notification on the Lottery app on my phone indicating that I was the lucky winner of $273 million on the New Jersey Lottery and I’m here to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Meduza. If you seek for help in any aspect of your life, Whats_App +18079072687 or Email: lordmeduzatemple@hotmail.com or check: lordmeduzatemple.com
sandra benard —
For every ailment or disease, there exist natural herbs capable of providing complete recovery without any adverse effects. I have personally had numerous positive experiences with the herbal medicine I procured from Dr Aigbomian, which successfully eradicated my issue with the herpes virus. I am particularly impressed with the efficacy of these herbal products and would highly recommend them to anyone seeking a remedy for the herpes virus or other health conditions. here are his contact information, WhatsApp:+2349153323194
email: draigbomianherbalhome3@gmail.com
Nichols Ashley —
Hello everyone, i contacted HPV’ i was told there is no HPV cure except treatment to control it. I totally lost hope. All I could think was losing my life because it was so embarrassing to have this virus. A few weeks ago I read about a possible natural cure which was guaranteed. And I ordered the treatment. After some weeks I got 100% cured. Now I’m so excited to share this testimony to every article for others living with hPV. There is a possible natural treatment to eliminate this virus, Contact him in email: droboh4@yahoo.com, website link : https://droboh42.wixsite.com/my-site, WhatsApp https://wa.me/+2348110960953
Nichols Ashley —
I want to thank Dr Oboh or helping me with his Herbal Medicine that cure my HSV-2 Disease completely.i have been living with HSV-2 Disease for the past 3yrs. i was so happy when i found Oboh, and I also see him helping people in the world to cure HSV with Herbal Medicine. For more information Contact him in email: droboh4@yahoo.com, website link: https://droboh42.wixsite.com/my-site, WhatsApp https://wa.me/+2348110960953