Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has come up with a suggestion to the central government to provide classical status to Odissi music.
The music of Odisha has over 2,000 years old tradition. It also has its own Raga and is based on shastra.
In a letter to Union Minister of State for Culture and Tourism, Patnaik said that Odissi music has all the required and impressive features to get the status of classical music.
The letter came after the state’s Heritage Cabinet accepted a plan to suggest Centre for classical music tag.
Patnaik also mentioned how the Odisha government has already set up Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Odissi Research Centre and Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi to promote Odisha music, dance and drama in the state.
For the unaware, Odissi dance is already accepted and recognized as classical dance at the national level.
By Sahana Iyer
