CM Majhi pays tribute to Guru Deb Prasad Das on birth anniversary
Synopsis
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi offered devout salutations to legendary Odissi dance master Guru Deb Prasad Das on his birth anniversary, honouring one of the founding pillars of classical Odissi's modern revival.
Key Takeaways
Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi posted a tribute to Guru Deb Prasad Das on his birth anniversary on October 28, 2026 .
Guru Deb Prasad Das is regarded as one of the foremost masters in the revival and codification of Odissi classical dance.
His work drew from the ancient Mahari and Gotipua traditions of Odisha's temple culture.
CM Majhi's post was written in Odia , offering 'devout salutations' ( bhaktiputa pranama ) on the occasion.
The tribute underscores the Odisha government's public recognition of the state's classical arts legacy.
On the birth anniversary of one of Odisha's most revered classical dance icons, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi offered his reverent salutations to Guru Deb Prasad Das, a towering figure in the world of Odissi dance, on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.
In his post on X, CM Majhi wrote in Odia: 'ବିଶିଷ୍ଟ ଓଡ଼ିଶୀ ନୃତ୍ୟଶିଳ୍ପୀ ଗୁରୁ ଦେବ ପ୍ରସାଦ ଦାସଙ୍କ ଜୟନ୍ତୀରେ ଭକ୍ତିପୂତ ପ୍ରଣାମ' — meaning, 'Devout salutations on the birth anniversary of distinguished Odissi dance artist Guru Deb Prasad Das.'
A pillar of Odissi's classical revival
Guru Deb Prasad Das is celebrated as one of the foremost masters of Odissi, the ancient classical dance form rooted in the temple traditions of Odisha. He was among the pioneering gurus who worked to systematise and revive Odissi as a recognised classical art form in the post-independence era, preserving its intricate abhinaya (expressive storytelling) and nritta (pure dance) vocabularies for generations of students.
His contribution to codifying Odissi grammar — drawing from the Mahari and Gotipua traditions — placed him in the pantheon of the genre's foundational teachers. Disciples trained under his lineage have carried the form to national and international stages, cementing Odissi's global identity.
CM Majhi's homage in cultural context
Chief Minister Majhi's tribute reflects the BJP-led Odisha government's continued public acknowledgement of the state's classical arts heritage. Odisha's culture — from the Rath Yatra of Puri to its UNESCO-adjacent craft and dance traditions — has long been a cornerstone of the state's identity and soft power.
Paying formal respects to Guru Deb Prasad Das on his birth anniversary is both a cultural gesture and a reaffirmation that the arts community remains visible to the state's highest office.
For a dance form that once teetered on the edge of obscurity, the memory of its greatest teachers is the scaffolding that holds it upright. Guru Deb Prasad Das built much of that scaffolding.
Point of View
Once a temple-bound tradition nearly lost to history, has become a symbol of Odisha's civilisational depth — and political leaders who acknowledge its founders signal alignment with that identity. For a government still consolidating its first full term in Bhubaneswar, gestures toward icons of art and culture serve as low-cost, high-resonance outreach to the educated, urban, and culturally conscious voter base. The tribute is ceremonial, but in Odisha's cultural politics, ceremony carries genuine weight.
NationPress
28 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Guru Deb Prasad Das?
Guru Deb Prasad Das was a distinguished Odissi classical dance artist and teacher who played a foundational role in reviving and codifying Odissi as a recognised classical dance form in post-independence India.
What did Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi post about Guru Deb Prasad Das?
CM Majhi posted a tribute in Odia on X on October 28, 2026, offering 'devout salutations' on the birth anniversary of Guru Deb Prasad Das.
What is Odissi dance and where does it originate?
Odissi is one of India's oldest classical dance forms, originating from the temple traditions of Odisha. It draws from the Mahari and Gotipua performance traditions and features intricate expressive storytelling and pure dance sequences.
What traditions did Guru Deb Prasad Das draw from in his Odissi work?
He drew from the ancient Mahari (temple devadasi) and Gotipua (young male dancer) traditions of Odisha to help systematise the grammar and vocabulary of modern classical Odissi.
Why is Guru Deb Prasad Das important to Odissi dance history?
He is considered one of the pioneering gurus who systematised Odissi and trained generations of dancers, ensuring the form's survival and global recognition after it had nearly disappeared during the colonial era.
