Context
Madhya Pradesh Governor, has inaugurated the 48th 'Khajuraho Dance Festival-2022' at world-famous tourist destination Khajuraho on the occasion of 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav'.
Key-points
- The event will be organised till 26 February.
- This year a 5-km ‘Dil Khel Ke Ghoomo’ marathon was also organised under the banner of ‘Safe Tourism Project for Women’ at the event.
- It aims to create a sense of security among women in tourist destinations with the slogan ‘Hindustan Ke Dil Mein Aap Safe Hain’.
- This dance festival is being organised with the joint effort of Ustad Alauddin Khan Sangeet and Kala Akademi Madhya Pradesh Sanskriti Parishad of Culture Department, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, Archaeological Survey of India and District Administration Chhatarpur.
- It is the topmost festival of the country focusing on Indian classical dance forms, and is well known nationally and internationally.
- Ambassadors and High Commissioners of 8 countries attended the family function to witness the performances of the 48th Khajuraho Dance Festival.
- These include ambassadors and high commissioners from Korea, Argentina, Vietnam, Brunei, Finland, Malaysia, Thailand and Lao.
- In this festival, the Madhya Pradesh State Rupankar Kala Award and National Kalidas Award for dance will be presented to the various artists.
- This year’s festival will feature a number of major events which will focus on the cultural landscape of the various genres of Indian dance.
- Visitors will be able to see an exhibition focusing on Kathak-Nepathya, as well as art displays from other countries and conversations with art experts and artists.
History
- The Khajuraho dance festival was started in 1975 from the temple premises itself.
- It was not allowed to be performed in the temple premises only after two-three years, as a result, this ceremony was performed outside the temple premises.
- Last year, the Culture Department’s effort to organise this program in the temple premises was successful and this year also this function is being done in the temple premises itself.
About Khajuraho
- Khajuraho is an ancient city known for magnificent temples and its intricate sculptures located in the Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh.
- It was built in the medieval century by the Chandela Dynasty.
- The UNESCO site of 'Khajuraho Group of Monuments' is famous for its Nagara-Style architecture and graceful sculptures of nayikas and deities.
- The splendour of the intricate statues is one of the reasons that make it a popular site to visit among tourists.
- Built between 950-1050 AD by the Chandela Dynasty, these temples represent various forms like meditation, spiritual teachings, relationship, through stimulating art.
- Some of the prominent temples that have stood the test of time here are Kandariya Mahadeva, Chaunsath Yogini, Lakshmana, Devi Jagadamba, Chitragupta and Parsvanath.
- The Kandariya Mahadeva temple is the largest of them all and consists of 872 statues.
- The Chaunsath Yogini temple is the oldest one in Khajuraho and as the name suggests, it once had 64 cells dedicated to yoginis or female attendants.
