Archive · 11 Jan 2026
Konark Festival Celebrates India’s Dance Heritage
The Konark Festival is a big dance event that happened in Odisha, India.
It lasted for five days and had many different dance performances.
The festival showed stories from Indian mythology, like the Mahabharata and the avatars of Lord Vishnu.
Dancers performed styles like Kathakali, Bharatanatyam, and Odissi.
They told stories about gods and goddesses, like Krishna, Shiva, and Parvati.
The performances were held in front of the beautiful Konark Temple, making it a very special event.
People enjoyed seeing the colorful dances and hearing the traditional music.
The festival is a way to keep India's dance traditions alive and share them with everyone.
The 36th Konark Festival of Dance was organized by Odisha Tourism and featured performances by renowned dance ensembles.
The festival showcased various dance forms, including Kathakali, Bharatanatyam, Odissi, and Manipuri, with themes from Indian mythology.
Notable performances included Duryadhana Vadam, Dashavataram, Devi Upasakam, and Leelakamal, each telling stories from the Mahabharata and Hindu epics.
Performers like Sharmila Biswas and Guru Ratikant Mohapatra presented innovative and traditional dance pieces, blending mythology with modern interpretations.
The festival was held in an open-air three-tier performance space with the Majestic Konark Temple as the backdrop, enhancing the cultural experience.
- Who
- Organized by Odisha Tourism and Odisha Tourism Development Corporation, featuring various dance ensembles and performers.
- What
- A five-day dance festival showcasing India's rich dance heritage and mythology.
- When
- Recently held (specific dates not mentioned).
- Where
- At the Konark Temple in Odisha, India.
- Why
- To celebrate and preserve India's artistic and cultural traditions through dance performances.
- Event
- 36th Konark Festival of Dance
- Organizers
- Odisha Tourism and Odisha Tourism Development Corporation
- Duration
- 5 days
- Venue
- Open-air three-tier performance space with Konark Temple as backdrop
- Key Performances
- Duryadhana Vadam, Dashavataram, Devi Upasakam, Leelakamal, Mangalacharan, Shrishti-Tatva, Adviteeyam, Yugmadwanda Pallavi, Nachanti Range Shri Hari, Obeisance to Surya Deva
- Art Forms
- Kathakali, Bharatanatyam, Odissi, Manipuri, Natasankirtana
- Themes
- Mahabharata, Avatars of Vishnu, Devi worship, Krishna’s leelas, Shiva and Parvati, Surya Deva
- Notable Performers
- Kerala Kalamandalam, Shankarananda Kalakshetra Ensemble, Bimbavati Devi, Sharmila Biswas, Guru Ratikant Mohapatra
