India has a rich cultural heritage and the varied
dance forms that we get to see are a reflection of our diverse cultural
traditions. When it comes to Indian classical dancing, India has an
amazing variety to present. Some of the dances are religious in nature,
while others are performed primarily for the purpose of entertainment
during the happy festive occasions. Most of the classical dances have a
religious significance and convey the devotion and thanks to the
divinity. All the dance forms revolve around the nine 'Rasa' or
emotions, namely happiness, anger, fear, courage, peace, kindness,
agony, surprise and disgust. To bring all these dance forms together
under one roof, India organizes several dance festivals. To know about
the dance festivals held in India, read on…
Popular Indian Dance Festivals
Chennai
Dance and Music Festival
Chennai Music and Dance Festival is organized every year during mid
December to mid January. The capital city of Chennai serves as the venue
of the festival, which lasts for a period of approximately one month.
More…
Chidambaram
Dance Festival
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). More…
Elephanta
Festival
The Elephanta Festival is celebrated every year in the month of
February, on the Elephanta Island. The island is situated at a distance
of approximately 10 km from the Mumbai harbor. More…
Konark Dance
Festival
Konark dance festival is celebrated every year at the open air
auditorium of the sun temple at Konark. The festival is a three to seven
day long occasion which is usually hosted in the month of December. More…
Mamallapuram
Dance Festival
Mamallapuram dance festival is celebrated every year during the period
between December and January in Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu. This festive
occasion is organized under the patronage of Department of Tourism,
Govt. of Tamilnadu. More…
Modhera
Dance Festival
Modhera dance festival is celebrated every year in the month of January
at the sun temple in Modhera, Gujarat. The temple was established in the
dedication of Lord Surya or the Sun God. Modhera dance festival is one
of the most significant festive occasions of Gujarat. More…
Khajuraho
Dance Festival
The Khajuraho dance festival is held in Khajuraho, located in Madhya
Pradesh. This cultural festival is held against a spectacular backdrop
of beautifully decorated temples of Khajuraho. It is an annual event
that is conducted during the months of February or March. More…
Pattadakal
Dance Festival
Pattadakal is a small town located in the state of Karnataka, India.
Every year in the month of January, a famous cultural dance event is
held here that is known as Pattadakal Dance Festival. More…
Nishagandhi
Dance Festival
The Nishagandhi dance festival is held in Trivandrum, the capital city
of Kerala. It is conducted in the Nishagandhi Theatre located in
Kanakunnu palace compound. More…
Rajgir Dance
Festival
Rajgir Dance Festival is a popular cultural event of India that is
celebrated at Rajgir, Bihar. This festival is arranged by Bihar Tourism
Department annually in the month of October. More…
 |
Dances of India |
