Ashok Vajpey : Dissent in Indian Bhakti poetry gives democratic right to the devotee to ask question to God
Bhubaneswar: World’s biggest festival celebrating Mythology, Mysticism, Music, Dance and spiritual literature Mystic Kalinga Festival kicked off here on Saturday amid presence of leading personalities of Indian Literature such as Ashok Vajpeyi, Ramkant Rath and Sitakant Mohapatra and many other literary and cultural enthusiasts of the city.
On the opening day of the three-day long festival, noted poet and former Lalit Kala Academy Chairman Ashok Vajpeyi received prestigious Mystic Kalinga Literary Awards.
Vajpeyi is a noted Hindi poet, critic, essayist and translator, and a dynamic presence in the Indian cultural scene. He is the author of thirty-eight books of poetry and criticism in Hindi and the founder/editor of eight journals in Hindi and English. He is the recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award (1994) for his book Kahin Nahin Vahin, the Agyeya Rashtriya Samman (1997) for his contribution to Hindi literature, the Officer’s Cross of Merit (2004) from the Republic of Poland, and the Officier de L’Ordre des Art et des Lettres (2005) from the Republic of France, among others.
Along with Vajpeyi, noted Odia poet, playwright and poet Harihar Mishra also received Mystic Kalinga Literary Award for his exceptional contribution in creating thought-provoking Odia plays. He had won the Odisha Sahitya Akademi Award way back in 1977 for his play Ratira Duiti Dena.
Mystic Kalinga Literary Award (Special Citation)was conferred upon Prateek Patnaik , a young researcher of Odia literature and Odissi music who has received many accolades for his extraordinary contribution in digitising the classical literature, vulnerable cultural practices including performing arts, musical tradition, lesser known monuments, neglected languages and palm leaf manuscripts.
The award has been instituted to recognize and celebrate three prolific writers, poets and performers in Odia, in one Indian language and in one international language. The awardees have been chosen keeping in mind their contribution to their specific language and genre.
On the opening day, many other notable personalities such as Mani Rao, Jerry Pinto, Shabnam Virmani, Arundhati Subramaniam, Paramita Satapathy and Sachidananda Mohanty participated in different sessions covering various aspects of Indian poetry and Bhakti music.
The event also witnessed Hindustani Music performance, book launches and conversation with senior police officer Basant Rath for his exceptional management skills in overseeing security situations in Jammu and Kashmir.
Vajpeyi : Dissent in Bhakti Poetry is a democratic right
Mr.Vajpeyi, a prominent face of Indian literary society in raising voice against Dalit and Communal atrocities in India, delivering his key note address Saturday said dissent in Indian Bhakti poetry allows the devotee to question the God, the Society as well as oneself without undermining the authority of God. The Bhakti poetry poses questions and answers them using different devices of poetry.
The three day literary and poetic extravaganza will be attended by many noteworthy Padmashree awaradees, poets and by mythology expert Devdutt Patnaik.
About Mystic Kalinga Festival : It should be noted that for the last three years Mystic Kalinga Festival has set a global benchmark in literary festivals. This year more than 100 celebrities from the worlds of literature, music, cinema, dance, theatre will assemble in the temple city of Odisha to deliberate on the theme of “FROM THE CARNAL TO THE COSMIC: A Celebration of Bhakti Poetry” at the Mystic Kalinga Festival: A Festival of Verse, Music, Dance and Discussion to be held in Bhubaneswar and Chilka from January 5th to 7th 2019.
Mystic Kalinga Festival (MKF) returns to the temple city, smart city, the sports city and the city of culture and spirituality, the capital city of Bhubaneswar. During the three days in the first week of the New Year, the city will witness hundreds of renowned poets and creative artists reciting and performing at the event. Eminent writers and Odisha’s Living Legends like Shri Sitakant Mahapatra, Shri Ramakanta Rath, Smt. Pratibha Ray et al will join the festival as Guests of Honour and speakers.
Every year the Mystic Kalinga Festival hosts a variety in books, themes, subjects and its dense ideas representing literature. The festival promises to give you a deep idea about literature both in India and the world. Welcome to a festival that unpacks the many nuances of this strange and fascinating condition called bhakti, and to a conclave of extraordinary talents, perspectives and performances. Welcome to Mystic Kalinga 2019.
Note: Mystic Kalinga Literary Award has been instituted to recognize and celebrate three prolific writers, poets and performers in Odia, in one Indian language and in one international language. The awardees have been chosen keeping in mind their contribution to their specific language and genres. The Award will be announced on 3rdJanuary, 2019.
About Odisha Diary Foundation and Odisha Media info Service (OMIS) Private Ltd :
Odisha Diary Foundation (ODF) and Odisha Media info Service (OMIS) Private Ltd is organizing annual Mystic Kalinga and Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF) every year to celebrate this creative spirit of Bhubaneswar and commemorate the literary diversity it offers, bringing it in conversation with the best minds in the world of literature within and outside of Odisha and India. Academics, authors, political and social activists, law makers, government officials, corporate leaders, students and people from all walks of life immerse in the vibrant atmosphere of the festival and exchange opinions on their favourite authors and works. Mystic Kalinga Festival and KLF has emerged as an Annual Flagship event in the cultural calendar of Odisha and our focus is to rekindle the romance with literature and foster reading and writing habits, especially among the youth. It offers a national platform with a global appeal and bridges the gap between literature in English and other Indian regional languages.
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