Jyoti Kala Mandir
Nurturing the Legacy Of Odissi
Jyoti Kala Mandir, founded by Guru Jyoti Rout nurtures a new generation to preserve the grace, spirituality and vibrancy of Indian classical music and dance, bridging East and West through the timeless art of Odissi

Jyoti Kala Mandir
Nurturing the Legacy Of Odissi
Jyoti Kala Mandir, founded by Guru Jyoti Rout nurtures a new generation to preserve the grace, spirituality and vibrancy of Indian classical music and dance, bridging East and West through the timeless art of Odissi
Teams

Founder & Director
Following a successful career as a dancer in Orissa, India, Jyoti Rout came to the United States in 1993 and founded Jyoti Kala Mandir. Today JKM is a thriving community of families, dancers and second generation teachers. Many of her students have completed a Ranga Puja and are establishing careers as soloists. Jyoti Rout is still actively performing throughout the United States, India and internationally. She is a brilliant dancer, teacher and choreographer.

Guru Satchidananda Das

Guru Satchidananda Das

Guru Jyoti Rout
Founder & Director
Following a successful career as a dancer in Orissa, India, Jyoti Rout came to the United States in 1993 and founded Jyoti Kala Mandir.

Guru Satchidananda Das

Guru Satchidananda Das
Instructors
Charity Program
Dear Ones, Namaskar!
As I write this letter, the memory of my whole journey with dancing, teaching, performing, and sharing in the USA comes alive in front of my eyes. So many people have been very kind, loving, and supportive of my work and conviction. I don’t have enough words to thank all of these supporters and express my gratitude towards their presence in my life.
I came to the USA in 1993 as a young dancer with lots of passion and faith. You are the ones who made my inner quality blossom and bloom here in this foreign land. After serving almost 25 years in the west, I came to realize that having been blessed with knowledge, talent, and a passionate heart to serve the humanity through dance, it’s time for me to share these blessings with the people back in my birth land, serving the underprivileged ones who weren’t as fortunate as me. The desire of sharing the teachings and knowledge I have gathered as a maturing dancer and teacher – and above all as a human being – with them arose in my heart. This started to manifest with the helping hand of finances offered by Sumedha Ma, Jan Kirsh, Prasant Behera, and Sri Gajanana.
Now, after 5 years of constant travelling back and forth between Bhubaneshwar and California, I am very satisfied and proud that both Jyoti Kala Mandir schools are doing a fabulous job in training high-quality dancers and developing a healthy next generation, helping bring about a positive future.
JKM’s India branch is located in the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, where most local children don’t have the opportunity to get exposed to our classical dance and many aspects of our rich culture. We now have 75 students in Bhubaneshwar, of which more than half receive a full scholarship for their dance training. This opportunity for service started when our JKM campus in Bhubaneswar was being built. I was practicing dance in the unfinished building, the construction workers’ and daily laborers’ children were coming and watching every day. I started giving them some food and sweets, then thought that I could teach them dance, and many of them became the new dance school’s first students.
The scholarship program covers the students’ dance training tuition and materials, including uniforms, costumes and jewelry, and gives them the opportunity to travel and perform in various places around India, getting exposed to cultural events, other artists and art forms, which would not have been possible otherwise. It is my wish that in the near future, just as JKM students from the US visit India, practice and perform along with the local student, that our JKM India students will be able to do the same in the USA. It’s my Seva and love to keep serving in this manner, as long as Jagannath provides me with the ability to do so.
If you would like participate in this journey and support this program, please reach out and contact me. I will be more than grateful to have your help for this wonderful cause of sharing the joy of humanity by bringing education, health, and freedom through art to the underprivileged.
According to our traditional life style, in our childhood we receive and learn from the society and world, as we mature, we settle and explore life, and finally it’s time to give back and serve the world with our earned wisdom and developed qualities.
With love and Blessings,
Jyoti Rout
Your tax-deductible donations would be much appreciated!
Full scholarship for a year ~ $350
Annual Tuition ~ $80
Full Odissi costume, jewelry and ghunguru (ankle bell) set ~ $170
Books and materials ~ $20
Travel for performances and training ~ $80




Omkaar
An International Odishi Dance Festival on December 19, 6 PM A Unique Festival where East Meets West

Omkaar
An International Odishi Dance Festival on December 19, 6 PM A Unique Festival where East Meets West

Omkaar
An International Odishi Dance Festival on December 19, 6 PM A Unique Festival where East Meets West

Omkaar
An International Odishi Dance Festival on December 19, 6 PM A Unique Festival where East Meets West
Vishnu-devananda Yoga Vedanta Center
The Vishnu-devananda Yoga Vedanta Center is Jyoti Kala Mandir’s sister organization and is also affiliated with the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers. Our center was founded in May, 2001, and offers yoga, meditation, and Vedanta philosophy classes for enhancing physical and mental balance and developing inner peace.

We are grateful for the support of our incredible sponsors who help us grow and make a meaningful impact. Their generosity and partnership drive innovation, inspire progress, and bring our vision to life.
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