Khajuraho Dance Festival

Khajuraho Dance Festival is a week-long event that occurs annually in the Chhatarpur District of Madhya Pradesh. The festival is a cultural spectacle that showcases traditional art and dance forms of India. The cluster of Khajuraho Temples where this event takes place is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The organizer of this event, the Kala Parishad of Madhya Pradesh, aims to promote Indian dance forms like Kathak, Mohiniyattam, Odissi, Manipuri, and Kathakali, among others. The festival is a remembrance of the heritage and rich cultures of a time gone by. Expressed through the medium of spectacular dances, the festival pays homage to the scores of workers and artisans who carved out the beautiful architecture of Khajuraho.

The Khajuraho Temples contain various sculptures that represent Indian Gods and art forms. One such art form, dance, is a prominent theme, and therefore, these temples provide the perfect backdrop to the dance festival. The two most famous temples of the region, Chitragupta and Vishwanatha Temple, have open-air auditoriums that can seat sizeable crowds. The most mesmerizing of the dances here celebrate the legendary dance of Shiva, Tandava. Others include Lord Krishna’s Raas Leela, and dances of mystic Apsaras- Menaka, Rambha, and Urvashi. The expressive dance forms are religious and include traditional music and recitation of Sanskrit or local language verses. They are grouped under the umbrella term Shastriya Nritya.

Renowned dancers from the Indian classical world grace the stage during the festival. Some prominent names include Lakshmi Vishwanathan, Darshana Jhaveri, Arushi Nishank Pant, and Radha-Raja Reddy. The dancers wear traditional costumes and heavy makeup to add to the beauty and expressiveness of the dances. While the various dance forms are diverse in terms of language and culture, they are common in terms of human emotion and core ideas. Witnessing these spellbinding performances in the pious and culturally significant location of Khajuraho is an otherworldly experience that captivates the spectators and grants them an experience of a lifetime. 

The city is well connected via road, railways, and air. Chattarpur is about 620 kilometers from Delhi and you can take a cab/bus/personal vehicle to reach there. The city has its own railway station located right in its heart, and public transportation is available. The nearest airport is just 12 kilometers away, and you can easily get cabs and buses to take you to the city. Getting in and around the city is easy and convenient, thanks to the easily available transport.

While at Khajuraho, you can explore the nearby attractions. The Khajuraho Temples were built in the 10^th century. Over the years, most of the 85 temples were reduced to rubble, but restoration efforts have helped revive 25 of them. The architecture and sculptures of these temples are a testament to the rich heritage of the region. Other temples include The Chaunsat Yogini, Lakshamana Temple, Chitragupta temple, etc., in the Western Group and Vamana Temple and Brahma Temple in the Eastern Group. Other attractions in Khajuraho include the majestic Raneh Falls, Pandav Falls, and Panna National Park.

 

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