37th Kathak Mahotsav Concludes in New Delhi

The 37th Kathak Mahotsav, organised by the National Institute of Kathak Dance, The Kathak Kendra, a unit of the Sangeet Natak Akademi concluded on a high note, celebrating the richness of Kathak through a six-day festival (21-26 March).

- PRATYUSH DADHICH

The festival, known for bringing together the best in the field, featured a Kathak literary festival, a seminar on Kathak and performances by eminent artists at both the Kathak Kendra and the prestigious Kamani Auditorium.

Kathak Literary Festival: A Meeting of Scholars and Artists

A key highlight of this year's Mahotsav was the Kathak literary festival held at Swami Vivekananda Auditorium at Kathak Kendra. Bringing together leading scholars, writers and exponents of Kathak, the festival witnessed insightful discussions by luminaries such as Sangeet Natak Akademi awardees Vibha Dadheech, Nandkishore Kapote, and Padma Shri awardees Shovana Narayan and Bharat Gupta. Other esteemed speakers included Mandvi Singh (vice chancellor, Bhatkhande Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya), Chetna Jyotishi, Rajiv Indramani Jha, Maya Rani Tak and Roshan Datye, who spoke about their literary contributions, while their books were displayed for attendees.

Performances at Muktakash Manch

The evening sessions (21-23 March) at Muktakash Manch at Kathak Kendra saw some electrifying performances and some debated ones by some of Kathak's most accomplished artists.

Renowned names such as Vishal Krishna, Namrata Rai, Neelima Adhye, Nayantara Parpia, Murli Mohan Kalvakalva, Moumala Nayak and Rani Khanam enthralled the audience with their artistry. Senior Jaipur Gharana Guru Nandini Singh's choreography stood out for its intricate execution and deep-rooted traditional elements, while Murli Mohan Kalvakalva earned special praise.