Cuttack, Nov 20: The Bali Yatra festival on Tuesday evening saw a spectacular cultural showcase by renowned Bollywood playback singer and Padma Shri awardee Sonu Nigam, who enthralled the audience with his soulful renditions of popular hits like "Tumse Milke," "Meri Jaan," "Papa Mere Papa," "Dil Duba Teri Aankhon Mein," and many more. His performance, along with the romantic ballads, captivated the crowd, who swayed to the tunes in a state of bliss.
Sonu also delighted the audience with an unexpected treat — singing a few popular Odia songs, including " Nandighosa Re Tu Jibu Mu Kokei Re Jibi " and "To Akhi Mo Aina," which further endeared him to the local audience.
In addition to Sonu Nigam, the stage was graced by traditional Odia and international performances. A cultural group from Sri Lanka presented a traditional dance that left the crowd in awe. The evening also featured the music of Odia singer Shashank Shekhar, known for his hit songs like "Smriti Eka Rupa Jahna" and "Sei Jhiati Tu," who brought his own unique charm to the performance.
Additionally, Akshay Mohanty’s musical set added to the evening’s magic. The performances from the Amrita Music group and other local cultural organizations showcased the rich diversity of Odia dance forms. The crowd was treated to the vibrant and expressive ‘Chhau’ dance from the National Cultural Art Institute, as well as traditional dances from the Bhubaneswar Society of Artists.
The cultural presentations continued with ‘Mahari’ dance from the Sri Jagannath Dance Academy, Odissi dance performances by the ‘Jajpur Biraja Kalachara Academy’, and other regional classical dance forms from local cultural centers.
With every performance, the festival not only highlighted the richness of Odisha’s artistic heritage but also underscored the importance of celebrating cultural diversity on such a grand stage. The audience, which had gathered in large numbers, was treated to a night of unforgettable music, dance, and cultural exchanges.
