Famed as the harbinger of the contemporary festivals of Orissa, the Konark Dance & Music Festival is a matchless extravaganza. Dating back to the year 1986, the fiesta takes place in the backdrop of the famous Sun Temple. Intended to create international cultural brotherhood and amity, the festival lures many artists from worldwide.
Hosted every year, the Konark Dance festival spans for 3 days. The fiesta witnesses participation of the famous classical dance group of national and international repute. Watching the unrivaled talent from different parts of the world perform Kathak, Odissi, Mohiniattam, etc. is a sight to behold. During these 5 days, many other full night shows and local programs leave the spectators in a state of awe.
How Konark Dance Festival is celebrated?
Interestingly, Late Guru Gangadhar Pradhan, the Founder-Director of the festival was also an eminent Odissi dance guru. A joint venture of the Orissa Tourism and the Odissi Research Centre, the Konark Dance Festival flaunts a unique identity. Taking place on the enchanting stage of the Natyashala in the monumental Sun Temple in Konark, the gala is spellbinding.
Dignified performances by the experts of different Indian classical dance forms present the aesthetic and spiritual essence of Orissa. Along with classical dances, a fair is also organized which displays handmade items, handicrafts and stalls specializing in different cuisines of India. The fair adds a special charm to the colorful dance festival.
For five days, the tunes of flute and the rhythmic sounds of ghungroos together with the beats of Phakawaj echo in the Sun Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. All these melodies combine to transfer one into a fantasy. The pits of the platform opened to the sky resemble the stage performances in the famous Shakespearean era.
Time to Celebrate of Konark Dance Festival 2024
Konark Dance Festival is held in February every year. The festival is more than a cultural program. It is a boost to the tourism industry. Tourists interested in the exclusive dance forms of India never miss the chance to visit Konark during the dance festival.
Places to Visit in and around Konark
- Konark Museum / Archaeological Museum – An ancient museum with four galleries exhibiting 260 various antiques.
- Chandrabhaga Beach / Konark Sea Beach – Reckoned as one of the finest beaches, the beach offers amazing views of the confluence of Chandrabhaga Beach with the Sea.
- Kuruma – Holding great historical significance, Kuruma is one of the major archeological excavation sites which also finds mention in many Buddhists texts.
- Ramachandi Temple and Beach – Dedicated to the Goddess Ramachandi, the temple boasts of an interesting legend associated with it.
- Astaranga Beach – Famous for its natural beauty, the beach casts a spell.
- Maa Mangala Temple – A holy abode of Goddess Mangala, the shrine is one of the Shakti Peethas in Odisha.
- Varahi Devi Temple – Dating back to the 10th-century AD, the temple is home to Goddess Varahi sitting in the lalitasana position.
How to reach Konark?
By Air – Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar (62 km)
By Train – Puri Railway Station (37.4 km)
By Road – Bhubaneswar (58.4 km)
