The year 2014 will make the 30th
edition of the globally-renowned Konark Dance & Music Festival. It will be
a treat for the senses.
Most tourist visit the Sun Temple in Konark
during the daytime. After all, that’s when the architectural marvel of the
temple is at its best display. The tour guides can he found enthusiastically
explaining to the visitors the scientific positioning of the temple and how one
can easily calculate what time of day it is simply by looking at
the positioning of the sun’s rays on its gigantic stone wheels.
The 13th century temple, designed in the
shape of a colossal stone chariot with seven horses and 24 wheels to
carry the sun god, takes on a completely different avatar as the
sun sets. The architectural craftsmanship transforms into a pristine
beauty rendered in stone. The month of December is even more special,
for that’s when the temple, also a World Heritage Site, turns
into the backdrop of the stage to host the Konark Dance Festival.
All forms of Indian classical dances are
showcased in this festival, organised by the Department of Tourism, Govt. of
Odisha, from December 1-5 every year. Classical dance forms like Kathakali,
Kuchipudi. Bharatnatvam and Manipuri are performed by reputed artistes of India
and abroad.
The clear night sky with stars shining bright,
adds to the magical spell of the ghungroos moving in tandem with the strings of
the sitar and the heats of the tabla at the open air auditorium of the temple.
The five-day festival this year will
include of Odissi cuisine, are also put up. Other highlights Odissi
dance performances by GKCM Odissi Research Centre of Bhubaneswar, Utkal
University of Culture, Urkal Sangeer Mohavidyalay, the Guru Durga Charan Ranbir
& Group and Nruryayan, all from Bhubaneswar. The Kathak performance will be
led by Padma Shri Sovana Narayan and her troupe from New Delhi. Padma Bhushan
Guru V.P. Dhanajyan & Group from Chennai will regale the audience with
their Bharatanatyam performances, while Padma Shri Guru Ghana Kanta Borbayan
& Group from Assam will perform Sattriya. The Kuchipudi performances will
be done Padma Shri Guru Sobha Naigu & Group from Hyderabad and Konark’s
Guru Birabara Sahoo & Group. The renowned Konark Natya Mandap will give the
Gotipua performances. Besides these, renowned international artistes will also perform
Balinese Dance and Mahari.
A crafts mela is also organised
during the festival and makes for a good place to shop for handicrafts from
Odisha. Various food stalls, serving the best of the festival are the artist
camps that exhibit Odissi temple sculptures, described aptly as poetry
transcribed on stone; and sand art exhibitions held on the beaches.
For more details about: Budget Tour India, Private Tour India and North India Tours
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