Bhubana Bhoi : Adorning the costume of Veer Surendra Sai

Brajeswari Nritya Kala Parisad of Kumbhari village is a prominent opera party of Odisha. This opera party has been operating ever since 71 years. It able to acquire name and fame across Odisha. In common parlance this opera party is also known as Bhagabana Party, since it was set up by Late Bhagabana Sahu of Kumbhari. He himself was a play writer, singer and director. For nearly 30 years he ruled the opera business of Odisha. During his lifetime he produced many eminent artists who acquired name and fame in their respective fields for exemple singer Padmashri Jitendra Haripal of Rangabati fame, sabda nrutya dancer Gadadhar Bariha, Fakir Mohan Pattnaik so on and so forth. Bhagabana Sahu departed for the heavenly abode in the year 2000, ever since his reign was handled by his adopted son Bhubana Bhoi.

Bhubana was born at village Dewandihi in the year 1955. His parents were poor. They were working as daily labourers in the agricultural fields. He attended government primary school only upto Class Four. Later his father migrated to Kumbhari. As a kid Bhubana was assisting his parents in paddy cultivation. From childhood Bhubana was inclined towards kirtan or singing religious songs. One evening while he was practising the songs guru Bhagabana Sahu heard and asked him to attend his class. Bhagabana sahu initiated Bhubana Bhoi as a student. There started the intense training.

Bhagabana party is renowned to enact religious plays. The famous plays under this category are Ramayana, Mahabharata, Ramarajya, Dushmanta Shakuntala, Danabira Harischandra, santidutta Srikrishna, Gobinda Chandra, Subhadra harana, Sri Gundicha Rath Jatra and Krushna janma.

That apart Bhagabana Party presents social plays as well notably the famous one are Bandhu milan, Biswara swarupa, sat kahile chatiphate, Tiranga patakara ranga nahi, Priyadarsini Indira Gandhi, Kalinga bira Biju Pattnaik so on and so forth. But notably the most shout after play of this party is Veer Surendra Sai. Until now it has been played 6,000 times. And in this play the lead role of veer Surendra Sai is being played by none other than Bhubana Bhoi. He rides a horse live on the stage for more than 6,000 nights while enacting the role of Surendra Sai. 

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