Tansen Music Festival

Madhya Pradesh, fondly called the heart of India, has gained a prominent position in the history of Indian music. One of the most prestigious festivals of the place that has gained national as well as international recognition is the Tansen Music Festival, which is also called Tansen Sangeet Samelan or The Tansen Utsav. Named after the legendary musician Tansen, one of the 'nine jewels' of Emperor Akbar's darbaar (court), the music festival is held in Gwalior near the tomb of Tansen at Behat. The tomb that was built according to the early Mughal architectural style is now included as a part of Gwalior's cultural heritage.

Exponents in the field of Hindustani classical music mark their presence at the Tansen Music Festival. They perform for five night long sessions. Artists invited to the festival feel privileged to perform in front of a huge audience, amidst the tomb of one of the greatest musicians of the Mughal Era. All through the festival, the soul-stirring ragas chosen by the finest talents of the country take the city into a musical groove. The overwhelming vocal and instrumental performances of the Hindustani classical musicians keep the audience hooked to their seats and want more from them.

Apart from the music festival, the city of Gwalior is also widely popular for housing one of the oldest and well known music Gharana (Family of people famous for singers) of Indian classical music. This is the reason why the city has been chosen as the venue to hold this festival. The residents of Gwalior are inclined to music and dance, probably because of the fact that the city is the oldest Gharana in Hindustani music. Therefore, Tansen Music Festival enjoys a supreme position amongst the inhabitants of Gwalior and hence, forms the hallmark of the culture of the city.

The fact reiterates itself, when a large number of people turn up every year, to witness the magical performances of the artists at the music festival. Every nook and corner of the city carries the fragrance of the mesmerizing music of the festival. This festival calls for opulent celebrations and this is the reason why it has become not only the tourist attraction and the hallmark of Gwalior, but also the cultural festival of Madhya Pradesh.

Taj Mahotsav

Taj Mahotsav is one of the most cherished cultural festivals of India, admired by the foreigners and locals alike. Held every year, between February and March, it is a ten day feast of classical dances, folk art and light music. This grand carnival takes place in Shilpgram, a place located very close to the Taj Mahal, Agra. Taj Mahotsav is an ode to the rich cultural heritage of Uttar Pradesh. This special Mahotsav is organized by Uttar Pradesh Tourism. It is one of the major attractions for tourists and draws thousands of visitors to Agra every year, from India as well as abroad.

Folk Artists
The major attraction of Taj Mahotsav is the soul stirring performances by folk artists from various Indian states. The festival is an apt showcase of the art and artistes of Indian origin and Indian culture. The brilliant performances by these folk artists cast a magic spell on the visitors. In Taj Mahotsav, one can experience a profusion of folk music and dances of Dundelkhand, Nautanki (Drama), Sapera dance of Rajasthan and Lavani of Maharashtra as well. These dances are performed just the way they used to be centuries ago.

Traditional Handicrafts
Apart from folk dancer, Taj Mahotsav also allows guests (from India as well as other countries and cultures) to peep into the diverse culture and traditions that have enriched this vast land for centuries. Traditional handicrafts and art, such as carving on wood and metal, is displayed. Marble, of course, rules the festivities each year (for obvious reasons). Mughal Durbar, one of the enchanting attractions of the bygone era, is reconstructed every year at the festivals, complete with elephants, camels, drum beaters and all other splendor of that era.

Exotic Cuisine
Indian festivities can never be complete without the preparation of exotic cuisine and it occupies a place in Taj Mahotsav as well. Some of the best and richest foods of India are available here. Typical cuisines are specially prepared by some very talented chefs, with delicacies being prepared from the oldest exponents that were used in the past era. These dishes are presented in the same way as they were presented centuries ago, in front of the rulers and royal family of the Mughal era. Other typical foods of Utter Pradesh are also available in this festival.

Shopping Material
Agra and Taj Mahal comes to life during this festival, with a lot of activities taking place. The whole place looks like a small Uttar Pradesh market. In this mini market, one can get handicrafts, antiques, woodwork, ivory work and other famous and special items of Uttar Pradesh. Exquisite crafts made of marble, wood carvings from Saharanpur; brass and other metal-ware from Moradabad; handmade carpets of Badohi, the blue pottery of Khurja, the Chikan work of Lucknow and the silk of Banaras are also widely exhibited during the Taj Mahotsav.

Natyanjali Dance Festival

Devotion and Dance are very much intermingled in the Indian Culture. Unlike West, the Indian Culture relates the art of dance more to religion and dedication than relaxation and fun. Several dance forms in India have even emerged from the deep rooted religious practices of any particular sect or region. In fact, one of the three most respected Gods of the Hindu Religion, Lord Shiva is also worshipped as Lord Natraja¸ the universal dancer by all the artists in the country. Several dance festivals are held in the country in order to exhibit this rich dance heritage of India, the Natyanjali Dance Festival is one of them.

Natyanjali Dance Festival is held every year during the months of February and March in the Prakara of the Chidambram temples in the city of Chidambram in Tamil Nadu. It is a five day festival which begins on the auspicious occasion of Mahashivratri. This dance festival is dedicated to the Lord of Dances and the Cosmic Dancer, Lord Natraja. The Natyanjali dance festival exhibits the rich dance culture of India and its amalgamation with the devotional feeling of religion.

The Natyanjali Dance Festival or Natyanjali Nritya Utsav is jointly organized by The Department of Tourism, Government of Tamil Nadu, The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and The Natyanjali Trust, Chidambaram. Organized in the famous 1000-year old temple of Chidambram, this dance festival has an aura of artistic and religious amalgamation, which makes this festival special in every regard.

Attended by all the renowned artists and connoisseurs throughout the country, the Natyanjali Dance Festival becomes a spectacular event taking place under the golden roof of the Chidambaram temple, in the hall adorned with the pillars exhibiting the classic 108 poses of Lord Nataraja. The festival becomes much more than dance art exhibition as all the artists performing at this pious venue regard this festival as their homage to Lord Natraja. Performing at the dance festival is considered a great honor to the classical dancers as they dance to create the 'Padams' and 'Varnams' in the course of creating an imaginary figure of the Lord Nataraja, whom they regard as their divine deity.

As an audience at this dance festival you can almost feel the ecstasy of the performers who go into a trance while performing at their dream stage. Their evocative acting and the subtle movements of each of their body parts are worth praise. The entertainment and ecstasy at this platform becomes vocal and universal. Natyanjali Dance Festival is not only meant for the experts, even the new performers who want to get attention and recognition performs at this stage. This dance stage remains a mesmerizing experience for the performer as well as their audience throughout their life.

Nishagandhi Dance Festival

Nishagandhi Dance Festival popularly known as Nishagandhi Nritya Utsav is celebrated twice a year, once in the month of October-November and then in the month of March-April in the Nishagandhi Theatre, in Kanakunnu palace compound, in the city of Trivandrum or Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. This festival is about a week long and witnesses participation from artisans all over the country. The artists who are keen on promoting the diverse Indian heritage are an integral part of the Nishagandhi Dance Festival as this festival provides them platform to reach to a wider section of audience.

Renowned artists of Bharatanatyam, Mohiniyattam, Kathak, Odissi, modern ballet and other folk form from all over the country perform at the open-air theatre of Nishagandhi during this dance festival. Famous names like Madhumita Paul, Madhavi Mudgal, N. Srikanth, Aswathy, T.V. Sankaranarayanan, Vyjanthi Kashi, Priti Patel, C.V. Chandrasekhar, Mattannur Sankarankutty and Balabhaskar are attached with this festival. Admission to this event is absolutely free and the festival usually is accompanied by classical, instrumental or fusion music.

The Nishagandhi Dance Festival is organized by the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation. It is also at times co-hosted by other states. West Bengal and Rajasthan have recently co-hosted this celebration. Year after Year this festival has gained lots of appreciation and recognition all over the country. The basic reason behind the popularity of this dance festival is the collection of diverse form of dances from all over the country. Moreover, participation of the artists and connoisseurs from all over the country make this festival cherished and glorious.

Apart from being a retreat to the dance lovers, this festival also exhibits the traditional arts and handicrafts of Kerala and the cuisines of India. A fair is held in the Sooryakanthi Fair Ground, adjacent to the dance festival venue. This fair showcases crafts from Kerala made of bamboo, cane, clay and coconut products. A food festival is also held at the same venue, which witnesses participation of grand hotels and famous personalities. You can get wide variety of dishes right from Kerala’s traditional recipes such as avial, koottukari, payasam and pulisery to the exotic Mughlai and scrumptious Bengali dishes at this food festival. Other than the dance, this fair is also a major crowd puller to the Nishagandhi Dance Festival.

The Nishagandhi Dance Festival witnesses participation from people all over the country. This dance festival with its varied dance forms and artists from all over the nation seems to a fascinating glimpse of India's rich dance heritage. This is why, it becomes an extremely enriching and interesting event for those who are looking to explore deep into the culture of India. This festival also comes as a welcome shower for the city dwellers and tourists twice a year who are provided with a beautiful opportunity to re-interact with their rich and varied culture again and again.

Mamallapuram Dance Festival

Apart from its temples that represent the architectural beauty of the ancient India, Mahabalipuram, a small city in Tamil Nadu, is also famous for its vibrant Mamallapuram Dance Festival. Indian classical dances including Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathak, Mohiniattam, Odissi and Kathakali are performed in this festival, which is held annually, during the months of January and February. Apart from the classical dances, folk dances are also performed in the festival. The cultural event is promoted by the Tamil Nadu Tourism Department. The four-week dance festival has evolved as one of the major cultural attractions of the southern state of India.

Arjuna's penance, a bass-relief sculpted on the face of two enormous adjacent rocks, in Mamallapuram, is chosen as the venue for Mamallapuram Dance Festival. The splendid backdrop provided by the Pallava Rock Sculptures adds to the overall appeal of the dance festival as well as provides it with an aesthetic touch, which is truly native to the indigenous Indian culture. The artists perform on an open-air stage. The open theatre style ambience provides the perfect mood for the dancers to give their level best in the festival. Created about thirteen centuries ago, the open air stage is magnetically attractive, featuring its monolithic rock sculptures that date back to the Pallavas.

Apart from the dance festival, the ancient city of Mamallapuram is significant in its own terms. The shore temple, situated 58 km south of Chennai (the capital city of Tamil Nadu), catches the tourists' attraction, who come from different corners of the country and the world to witness the dance festival. The temple is renowned for its magnificent architectural beauty, with monolithic rock sculptures. The ancient city is made a beautiful tourist destination by the amalgamation of the old 7th and 8th century Pallava carvings, temples and wonderful beaches.

Konark Dance Festival

India is a country of rich cultural heritage. The religion, arts and crafts in the Indian culture are so well intermingled with each other that it is almost impossible to segregate them. There are also so many varied forms of music and dances that each region has a special music and dance form of its own which has originated from the deep rooted cultural and religious practices of that specified region. Nowadays, there are several cultural festivals held in the country in order to exhibit and promoting the diverse Indian heritage to a wider section of audience and Konark Dance festival is one of them.

The Konark Dance Festival is held at the 700 year old Konark ‘Sun’ Temple in Orissa. This temple is famed as a world heritage site and is also an architectural wonder with well-adorned sculptures in various Odissi dance poses. The Natyamadir or the dancing hall of the temple is extremely famous for its wonderful interior. Constructed a way back in the 13th century on the beach of Chandrabagha, this temple and its dancing hall today stand as the evidence of Indian culture’s age old amalgamation of dance and devotion.

The Konark Dance Festival is organized annually in the month of December at the open air auditorium in the temple premises with the temple as the back drop. Many celebrated dancers from all over the country perform at this pious venue. Since 1989, this festival has been organized in the state jointly by Orissa Tourism and Odissi Research Centre to promote the diverse Indian dance heritage as well as the popularity of Konark Temple and Orissa as a tourist destination.

Dances like Odissi, Bharathnatyam, Manipuri, Kathak and Chau Dance performed here are relishing experience for the dance lovers. The Konark Dance Festival is a classical extravaganza which takes one through the experience of eternal ecstasy. The sound of Ghungroo bells, flute and Pakhauj along with the mesmerizing interior create a magical ambience which is unforgettable and mesmerizing for the audience as well as the participators.

Apart from giving the art lovers an opportunity to closely observe the rich Indian dance heritage, the Konark Dance festival is also known for its crafts mela. This craft fair is organized here by the State Industry Department to promote the local arts and crafts of Orissa. At the fair, beautiful sculptures and souvenirs made by the local craftsmen of the state are displayed and sold. Thus, Konark Festival gives one to have an experience of life time to witness a cocktail of art, craft, music, dance and food, all at the same place. The craft fair also acts as a major crowd puller for the Konark Dance Festival.

Khajuraho Dance Festival

The art of dance is so well intermingled in the culture of India that it is difficult to the segregate both of them. The art is prevalent in every nook and corner of the country through in various forms and by various names. Several dance festivals are organized in the country to provide a wide platform to this distinct form of art. One of the most famous of them is the Khajuraho Dance Festival held in the state of Madhya Pradesh. This dance festival, comparatively new to the other dance festival in India has gained considerable popularity in a little time due to its exquisite standards and magnificent performers. Though it is just seven years old, this festival has earned a great deal of reputation among locals as well as foreigners.

Khajuraho Dance Festival is actually a weeklong dance festival and is held during the months of February and March in Khajuraho. This cultural extravaganza is organized by the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Department and is promoted as one of the major cultural event in Khajuraho. This cultural event takes place at an open-air auditorium in front of the Chitragupta Temple. The Chitragupta temple was built thousands of years ago and is a dedication to the Sun god apart from the Chitragupta temples the Khajuraho Dance festival is also organized at the Vishwanatha Temple that is a dedication to Lord Shiva.

The basic idea behind Khajuraho Dance Festival is to make the current generation aware of the rich cultural heritage of Khajuraho. A number of renowned artists participate in this festival. Dances like Odissi, Kathakali, Bharathanatyam, Kuchipudi and Manipuri are performed here at their best by several popular as well as new artists. The artists performing here are honored for their performances. The quality of dance performed here is unmatched in terms of presentation and quality. As the dances performed here are performed with the wonderful backdrop of the sculptures of Khajuraho, they themselves acquire a divine sensitivity in themselves. The brightly lit, shimmering venue also makes the performances beautiful as well as mesmerizing.

Apart from the dance festival, the cultural fair organized here also attracts due attention. Local artisans with different kinds of artifacts and souvenirs exhibit as well as sell their arts in an open market very close to the dance festival venue. This art fair does not only give recognition to the local art form and livelihood to the local artisans, it also helps in spreading the popularity of the art to the places beyond the geographical boundaries. The Khajuraho Dance Festival thus acts as a celebration of the cultural heritage of Khajuraho temples as well as its magnificent local art for the coming generation.