Bhubaneswar: The iconic Sambalpuri song, ‘Rangabati…Rangabati’, rent the air and dancers matched beats as the Indian community met Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent visit to the UK.The performance was put together by an Odisha Society of United Kingdom (OSUK) team. “We had to get the sequence ready at short notice from the High Commission of India (HCI). I think we did it because of our feeling of statehood and patriotism,” said Subhashree Sahoo, one of the dancers and an IT professional based in London.She was accompanied by Sreya Sarkar and Antara Kumar, who matched steps in their vibrant Sambalpuri attire that was sources from Bhubaneswar. They also performed on the ‘Rasa Jamudali’ song.The HCI had asked for a group performance during Modi’s visit and OSUK zeroed in on Sambalpuri dance. “We had very less time but we went ahead because this is one of the ways to showcase our culture and tell the world about ourselves,” said OSUK member Sukant Sahoo.Winners of ‘Bharat ko janiye’ quiz contest organised by the HCI had also been invited to greet the PM. Gayatri Panigrahi, one of the winners, was thrilled to get the invite. “I went to receive PM Modi because he is a global leader and it’s a way to show my support, stay connected to my roots, and express my interest in India’s progress and global outreach,” she said. “Meeting the PM also makes me feel involved in the nation’s journey, even while living abroad,” she added.
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