Venue: Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram (Tamil
Nadu)
Time: February-March
Duration: Five Days
Highlights: Dance performances by eminent dancers from all over
the country, with the Natyanjali temple providing a magnificent
background.
The Chidambaram Dance Festival is organized in the ancient Nataraja
temple of the city. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and was built
as a tribute to His dancing form, known as Nataraja (the Lord of
Dances). The temple is adorned with beautifully carved pillars, which
portray Lord Nataraja in 108 poses of Bharathanatyam classical dance.
Every year, in the February-March, the temple plays host to the
Natyanjali Dance Festival of Chidambaram. The festival commences on the
auspicious occasion of Maha Shivaratri and stretches on for a period of
five days.
The Department of Tourism (Government of Tamil Nadu), The Ministry Of
Tourism (Government of India) and The Natyanjali Trust (Chidambaram)
jointly organize this dance festival. The festival is intended to
promote the message of 'Unity in Diversity' amongst people. Eminent
dancers from the various parts of the country come to Chidambaram every
year to take part in this cultural extravaganza. Through their dance,
they offer prayers and show their devotion towards Nataraja. The
performances are given at the 'Prakara' of the temple, with the carved
pillars of Nataraja providing the perfect backdrop.
How to Reach
By Air: The nearest airport of Trichy is situated at a distance
of 160 km.
By Rail: Chidambaram railway station is close to the Nataraja
Temple and is well connected with Chennai.
By Road: Chidambaram is well linked with cities like Chennai,
Pondicherry, Madurai and Thanjavur, by road.
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Dances of India |
