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For the first time in 44 years, Khajuraho Dance festival to be held on temple premises

MP Tourism dept offers clutch of other art and adventure activities for visitors too

Khajuraho-temples Representational image | Khajuraho

For the first time in 44 years, the Khajuraho Dance Festival, an internationally acclaimed cultural event, will be held right on the World Heritage temple group premises, with the MP tourism and culture department managing to get permission for this purpose following long-drawn efforts.

The 47th edition of the dance festival, organised by the department through its Ustad Alauddin Khan Music and Arts Academy, will commence on February 20 and continue till February 26.

Along with the daily performances by prominent individual and group performers of various Indian dance forms, the festival for the first time offers much more in the form of tourism, adventure and art activities planned by the culture and department.

Principal Secretary of the department, Sheo Shekhar Shukla, told THE WEEK that, till now, the Khajuraho dance festival used to be a cultural event, but this time it is also about heritage, nature and tourism. “There is something planned for each member of any visiting family. Right from morning to evening, some or other interesting activity will be available for visitors,” Shukla said.

He added that the Khajuraho Dance Festival commenced in the year 1975 on the premises of the world renowned temples, but after two-three years, the permission to hold the event on the premises was withdrawn. It was thus shifted to nearby open ground. However the tourism and culture department continued with its efforts to get it back to the temple premises and finally this year, permission was received for the event, he said.

The department has made all the necessary arrangements for visitors to interact with culture, heritage, traditions, customs and food of the region. Tourists will get opportunity acquainted with the taste of local culture, art and local cuisine, along with participating in interesting activities like heritage walks, bus tour of Dhubela Museum, e-bike tour, camping, village visits and water sports during the festival.

Even as the dance performances by exponents and prominent groups will commence each day from 7.00pm, alongside there will be interesting daily events that will continue for the entire week. They include Naipathya, a travelogue focused on Bharatanatyam dance form; Art Mart,  an art conclave; Kalavarta, a dialogue on arts; Hunar, a fair of indigenous art tradition; Chalchitra, a venture of films focusing on art, artists and art traditions; Samashti, an exhibition of terracotta and ceramics ware; Swaad, a Bundeli food festival, and Lokotsav, a fest of folk culture and tradition.

To coincide with the festival, the department is also offering a six-day tour package starting from Orchha and including the heritage site of Dhubela, about 45kms from Khajuraho on Jhansi-Khajuraho road and on to Panna after a three-day stopover at Khajuraho.First time in 44 years, Khajuraho Dance festival to be held on temple premises.

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