Bhubaneswar: The Devdasi Nrutya Mandir, in collaboration with the State’s Department of Tourism and Culture, will organise the 7th Devdasi Rashtriya Nrutya Samaroha at the Rabindra Mandap here from September 24 to 26 with an aim to encourage and showcase the inherent talents of artists before the audience.

Chairman of the festival committee Dr SK Tamotia told the media here on Saturday that on the concluding day of the function the Devdasi Award would be presented to the Kerala-based young versatile Kathakali danseuse Haripriya Nambudiri.

The award every year goes to one of the eight Indian classical dances, Odissi, Bharat Natyam, Kathak, Manipuri, Sattriya, Kuchipudi, Mohini Attam and Kathakali.
This is the one and only festival in India where one can find a combination of classical and temple ritual dances.

Dancers from across India and abroad are invited for their solo performances. A total of 14 dancers of the eight classical dances and the Mahari Dance of Puri have been invited to perform in the festival, said Dr Tamotia.