“Dance is the essence of my soul,” said Odissi exponent and Sangeet Natak awardee Aruna Mohanty, who is the recipient of this year’s prestigious Padma Shri award from the President of India. One had the rare opportunity of talking to her at her prestigious and historical Dhauli-Kalinga Mahotsav which celebrated its 13th year at the foothills of Dhauligiri. The festival which is held with the help of Art Vision and the Department of Tourism, Government of Odishais slowly but surely ushering in peace, at the very spot which supposedly was witness to a lot of bloodshed when Ashoka the Great fought the Kalinga war on the banks of river Daya, whose water ominously turned red. What better spot could there be other than this, when King Ashoka gave up war and turned to Dhamma Vijaya with the help of Upagupta.

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