Bhubaneswar: Bringing together artistes from across the country’s classical dance and music traditions, Konark Natya Mandap is set to host the five-day Jhulana Utsav from Aug 24 to 28 at Konark, celebrating rich and diverse classical heritage on a single platform.The festival will feature performances spanning Odissi, Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Mohiniyattam and Mool Charya Nritya, alongside classical music traditions including Odissi vocal, sitar, flute, tabla, pakhawaj, harmonium and manjira. Founded by Odissi guru and mardala exponent Guru Gangadhar Pradhan, the festival will open on Monday with a flute recital by Guru Jabahar Mishra, followed by a Bharatanatyam presentation by Suhani Chatterjee and an Odissi performance by Anisha Mondal and Sanjay Shaw.The second day will feature performances on pakhawaj, harmonium and manjira, followed by Odissi and Mahari Nrutya by Gayatri Khuntia. It will include a presentation by the host organisation. On Aug 26, the festival will feature a sitar recital by Prakash Chandra Mohapatra, an Odissi presentation by Krityea Narsingh Rana and Mool Charya Nritya by Acharya Bhanidwijaa Roy. The fourth day will showcase Odissi vocal by Bijayalaxmi Routray, followed by Mohiniyattam by Alex Raphael and an Odissi dance presentation by Shreemayi Debasmita, while the concluding evening will witness a tabla recital by Guru Kulamani Sahoo, followed by Odissi dance by Preetisha Mohapatra and Kathak by Sanvi Pal.Organisers said since its establishment in 1986 by Guru Pradhan, Konark Natya Mandap has served as an important platform for the presentation and preservation of India’s performing arts. Inspired by the architectural splendour of the ancient Natyashala of the Konark Sun temple, the mandap has continued to promote classical and traditional art forms while providing artistes a space to present their repertoire before audiences. “With performers from different parts of the country and artistic traditions represented across generations, the festival creates an atmosphere where heritage meets contemporary artistic expression,” said Sibashis Pradhan, secretary of Konark Natya Mandap.