BHUBANESWAR,
June 24, 1997
Sanjukta
Panigrahi, the high priestess of Odissi passed away
here early this morning.
Acknowledged
as one of the most renowned classical dancers,
Sanjukta (52), had been suffering from cancer for the
last several months but the ailment was kept a
closely guarded secret. The end came at 3-45 a.m.
Coming
from a orthodox family, Sanjukta was the first Oriya
girl to make classical dancing her career. She came
under the wing of celebrated Odissi dance guru
Padmashri Kelu Charan Mohapatra when she was only
five. While exploring the depths of the Odissi dance
form, inspired by the exquisite art on the temple
walls of Bhubaneswar, Konark and Puri, she was also
trained by several other gurus, including Pankaj
Charan Das.
