Khajuraho Festival of Dances is celebrated at a time when the hardness of winter begins to fade and the king of all seasons, spring, takes over. The most colorful and brilliant classical dance forms of india with their roots in the ling and rich cultural traditions across the country, offer a feast for the eyes during a weeklong extravaganza here. Since times immemorials, myriad forms of dance have been adsorbed into the classical dance styles. Watching these performances reveal the age-old trends, trits and nuances that are firmly estabilished in dance in various regions of india.
The aura of these masterpieces has not dimmed over many centiries; nor have the living traditions of these styles lost their fluidity and charm over the long passage of time. Indian traditions of dance have been considered to be divine in origin. In indian mythodilogy, the gods and goddesses are great lovers of music that comproses vocal singing, instrumental music and dance.
Some of the gods are great dancers themselves. Shiva's cosmic dance, the Tandava, Lord Krishna's Rass Leela with the Gopis (female partners), and the legendry beautiful and most skilled dancers known as apsaras, such as Menaka, Urvashi and Rambha, in the celestical court of Lord Indra, the King of Gods, are well versed in the heavenly art of music and dance. These dances of the mind and soul pervade all aspects of life and bring color, joy and gaiety to the festivals and ceremonies of this country.
For ages this etoss has continued in the realm of art and culture of india nad embedded into the diverse dance styles prevalent in various parts of the country. These dances materialize against the backdrop of the glorious temples of Khajuraho, which stand a testimony to the glorious past of India's cultural richness. This temple complex glows with the warmth of sandstone which is ornamented with the sinous curves of sculpture unparalleled in their beauty.
History
The renowned temples of Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh are popular for their architectural wonders. These temples become illuminated with floodlights at the time of the Khajuraho Dance Festival and are popular culture tourism sites in India. The Khajuraho Dance Festival is one of the most important cultural events in the state of Madhya Pradesh. The organizer of this event is the Madhya Pradesh Kala Parishad, which is the Department of Culture in Madhya Pradesh. The festival is a platform for the cultural display of the various dance forms of India.
The dance festival in Khajuraho is a seven day event, featuring different forms of classical dance. It is an annual event and takes place in the month of February or March next to the stunning setting of the wonderfully illuminated Khajuraho shrines. The dance festival has earned a global recognition for itself from different renowned dance schools across the world. Many overseas tourists also visit the country during this event to watch a culturally extravagant program of classical dances.
Celebration
The goal of hosting this festival is to promote the cultural magnificence of the country and its classical dance forms. This cultural event rightly showcases the opulence of the different classical dance forms of the country like Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Kathakali and Manipuri. The event comes with presentations of the most famous dancers in their area. Of late, the contemporary dance of India has been included in the events.
The salient highlights of the festival are:
• Mohniattam dance
• Bharatanatyam dance
• Manipuri dance
• Odissi dance
• Kathak dance
• Kuchipudi dance.
The dance festival is marked by the several performances by renowned artists of India who have made a mark for themselves in the art of dancing. However this festival also presents itself with a platform for young and talented new artists as well. Other than Indian performers, dancers from other countries also gather here to show their talent. Classical dancers take part in live performances on Kuchipudi, Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Odissi, Mohniattam and Manipuri. The atmosphere becomes vibrant with these attractive varieties of traditional Indian dances. The spectacle of the dance maestros performing in the backdrop of floodlit temples is a lifetime experience. The dance festival is also an opportunity for the display of local art and craft of the people.
Madhya Pradesh Festival emulates the festive fervour that runs through the veins of India. Bounded by five different states, this land of contrasts has absorbed a little culture and tradition from each, and yet has an identity wholly its own. This aspect is most evident in its festivals. While Madhya Pradesh also celebrates pan-Indian festivals such as Holi, Dussehra, Id and Diwali with fervour, there are several festivals, both religious and cultural, which are exclusive to the state. Considering their sheer number, odds are that tourists will get to participate in or experience at least one while visiting MP.