Khajuraho Dance Festival
Khajuraho is a city of temples and erotic sculptures. Each temple has its own story and the land iteslf has many contradictions. Every sculpture and every temple is a paean to the land and people . The sensuous and erotic sculptures of Khajuraho are but a small part of the beauty and grandeur of the temples at Khajuraho. The Chandela rulers who were the original settlers and builders of the city of Khajuraho were probably the most forward thinking race to have ever settled in these lands. The temples here are built in such a way that the whole parikram (circumabulation) of the temple is filled with sculptures which deal with lives of human beings ranging from life, birth, work, love, sex, happiness, marriage, music, dance, death etc.
The temple architects and the master craftsmen believed that one would have to rise above these mundane things of life to ever be able to attain the god. This was why every temple was built in 3 sections, the outermost depicting everyday lives, the second section depicting wars between good and evil forces and the third, innermost section being the sanctum sanctorum or the garbha griha. It was believed that anyone who had passed those 2 sections would by then have satiated his base desires and was one ready to embrace the divine and bask in the glory of the almighty. Such clear precise thought in construction is unique to the temples of Khajuraho.
About Khajuraho Dance Festival
This timeless beauty of Khajuraho and all that it stands for is celebrated every year during the Khajuraho Dance festival. It is a evocation of the divine craft of dance, drama and music to denote the pure and pristine power of the almighty lord. India has had a tradition of dance since time immemorial and most of our Gods were also known to be accomplished dancers. While Lord Shiva is known for his Natraja form and Tandav dance, Lord Krishna is known for his sweet and seductive Ras Leelas. The tradition of dance has come down from the ages and is still considered a divine art form with the ability to transform and enthrall every person who watches the performance. Also Indian dances have always been associated with temples where temples formed the main places to perform dances. Khajuraho dance festival is aimed at continuing that lineage and showcasing the ancient Indian dance forms against the stunningly beautiful temples of Khajuraho.Annual Event at Khajuraho
Khajuraho dance festival is an annual event and is conducted every year in the first week of February. The festival is conducted over a period of 7 days. The timing denotes the transition from the chill winters to the onset of beautiful spring, which brings along with it, the freshness and positivity. The event is organized by the Madhya Pradesh Kala Parishad. Various dance forms like Bharatnatyam, Odissi, Kuchipudi, Kathak, Manipuri, Kathakali etc are showcased at the event. All the dance performances are staged in an open air auditorium against the backdrop of the Chitragupta and the Viswanatha temple. Popular artists from across the various genres participate in this event and has tourist flocking for this amazing visual treat form across the globe. The main aim of the event is to make the younger generation aware of the rich cultural heritage of the country. It aims at giving a platform for young, budding, talented artists and helps them discover their niche. Though the festival is only about 7 years old, it has fast gained an international reputation as being one of the foremost cultural extravaganzas in India. Performed in the evenings against the shimmering lit temples, the performances transform and attain a magical quality and it is this quality, which has been attracting tourists and art aficionados from all over.
Art Fair at Khajuraho Dance Festival
