Thiruvananthapuram: The week-long Nishagandhi Dance Festival, one of India’s iconic classical dance carnivals organised by Kerala Tourism, will get off to a colourful start at 6 pm at the Nishagandhi Auditorium in the Kanakakunnu grounds here on Friday.
Kerala Health, Women & Child Development Minister Ms Veena George will inaugurate the festival and present the prestigious Nishagandhi Puraskaram to leading Kathak exponent Pandit Rajendra Gangani, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to Indian classical dance at a ceremony at 6 pm.The honour carries a prize money of Rs 1,50,000, citation and memento.
Pandit Gangani was selected for the honour by a jury comprising former chief secretary and writer K Jayakumar, playwright and cultural personality Soorya Krishnamurthy and performer and choreographer Rajashree Warrier, with Tourism Secretary K Biju as the panel Chairman and Director of Tourism Ms Sikha Surendran as Convener.
The festival has lined up India’s best classical dancers and upcoming stars to mesmerise the audience converging at the venue. The performers are drawn from diverse Indian classical dance including Bharata Natyam, Kuchipudi, Manipuri, Kathak, Sattriya and Odissi.
A Kathakali Mela featuring hundreds of Kathakali artistes will also be held alongside the seven-day festival. Kathakali performances will be held at the auditorium inside the Kanakakkunnu palace every day from 5:30 pm.
‘Bali Vadham’ (Feb 14), ‘Kalayanasougandhikam’ (Feb15), ‘Baka Vadham’ (Feb16), ‘Nala Charitham Randam Divasam’ (Feb 17), ‘Kamsa Vadham’ (Feb 18), ‘Uthara Swayamvaram’ (Feb 19), and ‘Rukmangada Charitham’ (Feb 20),will be performed as part of the Kathakali Mela.
The inaugural ceremony will be followed by a Bharatanatyam performance choreographed by Parshwanath S. Upadhye & Adithya P.V of Punyah Dance Company.
Pandit Rajendra Gangani & Group will enthral the audience with a Kathak performance later at 8.30 pm on the opening day.
The Nishagandhi Festival also brings alive recent trends in Indian classical dance forms and sets a stage for upcoming artists to present their talents and artistic expressions. Public entry to the festival is free.
