Indus Valley Times

By S.N.Panda

Koraput, Oct. 22: Odisha’s senior Congress leader and Jeypore MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati, who is known for atypical way of life and good sense of humour, has once hogged limelight for by dancing with girls at Jeypore in Koraput district.

On Friday evening, Bahinipati was invited by a local cultural organisation as chief guest to felicitate the ladies taking part in a Dandiya dance programme organised on the occasion of the ongoing Navratri festival.

The firebrand lawmaker, who sends the treasury bench members into tizzy while forcefully presenting his points on the floor of the Odisha Legislative Assembly, could not stop as the girls started swaying and spinning to the tune of Dandiaya songs. He climbed onto the stage with Dandia sticks and began shaking legs, much to the amusement of the organizers and spectators.

Local residents and social media users profusely liked Bahinipati’s dancing moves.

“You’re a master dancer. Really, I appreciate your dancing moves. In the past, you mesmerized us with by singing folk songs. Now, once again, you have shown your talent in dancing,” wrote Suryanarayan Panda, a resident of Koraput.

Previously, Bahinipati had sung a few folk songs which received wide appreciation.

Addressing the gathering at the function, Bahinipati said, “I am very glad to see that girls irrespective of their political affiliations have joined the Dandiya night. I thank them for their commitment to practice and uphold our rich cultural ethos and values.”

“It is heartwarming to see that the ladies of Jeypore are no less singers and dancers than any other part of India,” he added.

Though Dandiya is a predominantly north-Indian and particularly Gujarati dance, people in Odisha have also begun to accept it and perform it with full zest, thanks to its melodious music, mesmerising yet simple moves and association with Durga Puja. While the dance is performed across the year on almost every occasion in Gujarat, it is limited to only Durga puja in Odisha.