The 'Chaitra Parba' or 'Chhau Festival' commences from the 10th/11th April every year and continues for three days concluding on 'Mahabishuba Sankranti Day' at Baripada. Celebrated in honour of Lord Shiva and Surya, the Sun God.

Contact
Dept. of Tourism
Paryatan Bhawan
Museum Campus
Bhubaneswr - 751 014
Ph: (674) 2432177
email: ortour@orissatourism.gov.in

Dharani Kalotsav is organised by Society Dharani and held at Kerala Fine Arts Hall. In December 1999 Shayamala Surendran formed the Society Dharani for bringing eminent artists to perform and give lecture demonstrations in Kochi.

Contact
Shymala Surendran
"Dharani", XLII /2168
S R M Road, Kochi 682018
Ph: (0484) - 2401143 / 2401400
e-mail: shyamalasurendran@yahoo.com
shyamala@md5.vsnl.net.in

Ekamra Utsav - A lively downtown 15 days festival at Bhubaneswar in early January, Ekamra Utsav is a life time experience for the vacationers. The highlight of the festivities is Mukteswar Dance Festival held on the courtyards of this famed temple where the eminent exponents of Odissi dance enliven the stage with their magical performances. Besides the dance performances, the visitors to Ekamra Utsav are treated to an expo of traditional art and craft, a flower show, a multicultural food court, a heritage walk and the attractive discounts offered by the leading shopping centres to the tourists complement the festival mood.

Contact
Dept. of Tourism
Govt. of Orissa
Paryatam Bhavan
Bhubaneshwar 751014
Ph: (0674) - 2432177
email: ortour@orissatourism.gov.in

To commemorate the living heritage of Indian dance, sculpture and art, Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) in association with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has organized the Elephanta Festival. The Elephanta Festival is a tribute to classical performers and an initiative to popularize Indian classical dance and heritage art forms. A renowned world heritage site, Elephanta forms a stunning backdrop for India's leading artists as they enthrall you with their music and dance recitals. TCS in partnership with MTDC is delighted to be associated with the Elephanta festival.

The festival features eminent artistes, showcasing a traditional welcome with the catchy tunes of 'Koli' fisher folks, the aesthetically erected stage, bright lights, delicious ethnic food and the marvelously illuminated Maheshmurti cave. The festival also hosts a number of ethnic food stalls which highlight the traditional foods of the locality. First started in 1989, this festival is organized by MTDC, in Association with Tata Consultancy Services.

Contact
Maharashtra Tourism Devt. Corpn. (M T D C)
9th Floor, Express Towers
Nariman Point, Mumbai 400021
Ph: (022) - 22024522 / 22024584 / 22023439

The Ellora Ajanta Aurangabad festival is organized by Aurangabad Festival Committee under the chairmanship of the Divisional Commissioner Aurangabad in association with MTDC. The Festival is held at the Soneri Mahal, a grand historical Haveli in Aurangabad. Apart from the cultural entertainment of the highest order - a mix of classical and folk dancing, instrumental, vocals and milajula mushaira, there are stalls exhibiting the artistry of the craftsmen from across the state, along with activities like Rangoli, painting, mehendi, cookery, essays, bhajans, games & competitions.

The venue was shifted from the Kailash temple at Ellora in 2002 & the name changed from Ellora festival to Ellora-Ajanta festival. Previously held at the enchanting Ellora caves the festival has now shifted its venue to the magnificent Soneri Mahal. Built in the 17th century, this Mahal was built by Pahadsing a Orchha chieftainis and is an architectural marvel of Aurangabad. The Ellora Ajanta Aurangabad Festival aimed to put the historical and pictorial sites in and around Aurangabad in the spotlight, some of them being Ellora, Daulatabad, Bibi-ka-Maqbara, Panchakki (A watermill), Lonar, Ajanta and Shirdi.
Source: maharashtratourism.gov.in
Contact
The Ellora-Ajanta Festival, Aurangabad Commitee
Mr.Dilip Shinde.
Chief co-coordinator & Dy Secretary (Housing Department)
Mantralaya, Mumbai
Ph:022-22024678 / 22871515
e-mail: dilipshindedc@yahoo.co.inn

GANGA MAHOTSAV, a five-day cultural tourism fiesta is organized by the Government of Uttar Pradesh on the banks of the river Ganges in Varanasi. This festival is celebrated to promote Varanasi as the cultural capital of India and the Ganga as India's vital lifeline. The festival is a crowd puller and both foreign and Indian tourists make a beeline to the heritage ghats - symbols of eternal India - to experience music and dance.

In order to provide platform to young and talented artists of different styles of Classical dance Academy has arganised Gunghroo Festival. This festival is on since 1984. This programme since last few years is been arganised every year in one of the cities successfully. This is a very unusual festival on defferent styles of classical dances of India.

Ustad Alauddin Khan Music and Art Academy organises various festivals to promote music & dance - "Alauddin Khan Vyakhayan mala", "Utteradhikar", "Gunghroo", "Durlabh Vadya Vinod", "Dhrupad Festival", "Chakradhar Festival", " Kumar Gandharva Festival - Dances","Ameer Khan Festival- Indore", "Alauddin Khan Festival-Mehar".

Contact
Ustad Allaudin Khan Sangeet Academy
Sanskriti Bhavan
Banganga, Bhopal 462003
Ph: (0755) - 553058

A three-day mega cultural festival of dance, music and drama, folk forms is celebrated, with stages set at various places in Hampi. Other attractins are the colourful procession by the folk artistes, dressed in their traditional attire, illumination of the rocky terrain and the fireworks.

The Festival endeavors to bring back memories of the golden period of the Vidarbha region. It was here that Mahakavi Kalidas penned some of his greatest literary works, Kumaarasambhava, Meghaduuta, Ritusamhaara, etc.

The Kalidas festival is organized in association with the District Collectorate Office of Nagpur & features some of the greatest exponents of music, dance and drama from all over the country. It is held to showcase Nagpur, the Orange City, Maharashtra's second capital.

Contact
MTDC Regional Office
Ph: 0712 - 2533325
Fax: 0712 - 2560680

A festival of Martial Dances at Dhauli, this festival commemorates the victory of Peace over War where renowned dancers perform harmonising the vigour of martial arts with sublime dance forms with their swords, spears and shields. This annual thrilling display of dances and music takes place at the foothill of the famous Peace Pagoda at Dhauli, where Emperor Ashoka is believed to have fought the last battle before his metamorphosis into an apostle of nonviolence and peace.

Contact
Dept. of Tourism
Paryatan Bhawan
Museum Campus
Bhubaneswr - 751 014
Ph: (674) 2432177
email: ortour@orissatourism.gov.in

Kathak Mahotsav is an annual festival held by Kathak Kendra. (instituted in memory of Maharaj Kalka and Maharaj Bindadin of Lucknow). Kathak Kendra is a unit of the autonomous Sangeet Natak Akademi - National Academy of music and dance.

Contact
Kathak Kendra
Bhawalpur House
Bhagwandas Road
New Delhi 110001
Ph: (011) - 23388681
Fax: (011) - 23387182

Organised by Kathak Kendra

Held every year from 25th February to 2nd March, Khajuraho Dance Festival takes place at the open-air auditorium in front of the Chitragupta Temple dedicated to the Sun God and the Vishwanatha Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. They are situated in the Western Group of temples, which is the largest, well maintained and most easily accessible temple group of Khajuraho. Started regularly since 2002, this weeklong festival has already become legendary with its outlandish classical dance performances presented in a dreamlike setting of splendidly illuminated temples. Khajuraho temples present sculptures depicting various skills and arts of courtly love including dance and music in stone and what venue can be more befitting to hold the cultural festival highlighting the various classical dances of India!

Some of the best artists and performers that have marked themselves in their fields come from the various states of India to participate in the festival and the performances including some of the best known dance styles such as the intricate footwork of Kathak, highly stylized and sophisticated Bharathanatyam, soft lyrical temple dance of Odissi, the dance dramas of Kuchipudi, Manipuri, the dance of rare and ancient civilization and Kathakali stage fights with elaborate masks. Recently, modern Indian dances have also found their place in the Khajuraho Dance festival. Along with the dance performances one can also see a number of craftsmen trading off their indigenous arts and crafts to the visitors.
Source: http://www.khajuraho.org.uk/khajuraho-dance-festival.html

Contact
M P Sahitya Kala Parishad
Banganga Road
Bhopal 462 003
Ph / fax: (0755) - 553782
e-mail: mail@mptourism.com

The Konark dance festival is organized by eminent Odissi guru Gangadhar Pradhan's Orissa Dance Academy in association with the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, Kolkata at Konark Natya Mandap in Konark. As the sun sets, the open air auditorium gains life in the form of musical beats and rhythmic movements under the star lit sky. With the poem in stone as the backdrop, the festival proves to be a true cultural feast. A celebration of Odissi, Bharathnatyam, Manipuri, Kathak and Chau Dances; the festival truly comes as a lavish feast for the eyes and ears. The sound of Ghungroo bells, flute and Pakhauj add on to the festive mood.

A crafts mela is also put up during the Konark Dance festival. Serving a wide array of delectable cuisines and a variety of handicrafts, this mela adds more fun to the festival thus making it a perfect venue for a family get together on a holiday or a joyous experience to the tourists.

Contact
Dept. of Tourism, Govt. of Orissa
Paryatan Bhawan
Museum Campus
Bhubaneswar - 751014
Ph: (674) 2432177
email: ortour@orissatourism.gov.in
konarknatyamandap.org

Since 1988, the annual Kutiyattam Mahotsavam (12 days) of Ammannur Chachu Chakyar Smaraka Gurukulam is held at Natanakairali and has played an important role in moulding a new generation of actors in the Kutiyattam Theatre Tradition. The oldest surviving classical Sanskrit theatre tradition of India, Kutiyattam, has a unique representation of Sanskrit plays and a highly stylized and complex theatre language. Recently UNESCO declared Kutiyattam as a “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity”. Irinjalakuda has been the home of the Ammannur Chakyars since several centuries.

Contact
Ammannur Chachu Chakyar SmarakaGurukulam
Ammannur Chakyar Madhom
Irinjalakuda, Thrissur
Kerala 680 121
e-mail: venuji@satyam.net.in

Lai Haroba is the most important pre-Hindu ritual festival of Manipur. Lai Haroba means entertainment of the gods. There are nearly 400 shrines of different animistic deities and this festival, held in their honor, lasts from a week to a fortnight each spring with the advent of monsoons. The rituals of the Lai Haroba are conducted by the Maibis, priestess-oracles. Maibis are chosen by fate when they exhibit certain psychic signs and fall into trances. Though they may be men or women, they dress as women when they become Maibis. They are then trained in the dances and rituals of the Lai Haroba Festival and learn to prophesy the future through trances. Each evening of this festival begins with several hours of ritual dances by the Maibis, followed by dances offered by other members of the Meitei or Manipuri community.
Source: sharonlowen.com

This festival is held every year during Dec-Jan in Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu, organised by Department of Tourism, Govt. of Tamilnadu. Mamallapuram, once the ancient port of the Pallavas is renowned for Pallava culture and art. Exponents of Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathak, Odissi, Mohini Attam and Kathakali perform against the magnificent backdrop of the Pallava rock sculptures. Apart from the classical performances, one can also see artists performing numerous folk dances.

Contact
Dept. of Tourism, Govt. of Tamilnadu
Tourism Complex, Wallajah Road
Near Kalaivanar Arangam
Chennai 600002
Ph: (044) - 25383333 / 25389857 / 25360294
Fax: (044) - 25381567
e-mail: ttdc@md3.vsnl.net.in

The Sun Temple is the site of an annual festival of Indian classical dances organized by the Tourism Corporation of Gujarat.

Contact
Dept. of Youth Services & Cultural Activities
Govt. of Gujarat, Block No.11
3rd Floor, Old Sachivalay
Gandhinagar 382010
Ph: (02712) - 21897 / 23078 / 21372

Starts from the day of Mahashivaratri, for 5 days. Chidambaram is situated along the coast of the Bay of Bengal, 75 kms south of Pondicherry. Lord Nataraja, according to the Hindu mythology is a cosmic dancer. He is called the Lord of dances. This is an opportunity for all dancers, from all India, to perform and to pay their tribute to Lord Nataraja.The Natyanjali festival, which brings all the prominent dancers of India, together on the same platform, opens on the auspicious occasion of Mahasivaratri, in the month of February. It is performed at the 'Prakara' of the temple, and the dancers, full of intense bliss and devotion, with their evocative abhinaya, offer their dance to the great divinity, Lord Nataraja.

The festival is jointly organised by The Department of Tourism, Government of Tamil Nadu, The Ministry Of Tourism, Government of India and The Natyanjali Trust, Chidambaram. It is designed to promote a universal message of 'Unity in Diversity' conveyed in the universal language of music and dance.
Source: tamilnadu-tourism.com

Contact
Natyanjali Trust
Sambandam A, Nagasamy R
57, Car St., Chidambaram
Tamilnadu 608001
Ph: (04144) - 22534
Fax: (04144) - 22265

The Park's New Festival is hosted by Prakriti Foundation (started in 2007). A five day festival held in the first week of December in Chennai, showcases new and emerging work in the field of dance, music and theatre for Chennai audience. Earlier Prakriti Foundation & Arngham Trust co-hosted the Other Festival. This festival was held for 9 years from 1998- 2006.
prakritifoundation.com

It includes a food festival and craft mela on the adjoining Sooryakanthi grounds.
In 2005, the festival was held in April
In 2007 & 2008, it was held from Jan 20-26

Contact
Dept. of Tourism
Govt. of Kerala, Parkview
Thiruvananthapuram 695033
Ph: (0471) - 2321132
e-mail: deptour@vsnl.com / info@keralatourism.org

The annual six-day Pachmarhi Festival is organized at Pachmarhi, the Verdant Queen of Satpura featuring cultural programmes, art performances and quisine. Stalls are put up for display and sale of the products of skilled artisans sponsored by the Handloom and Handicrafts Development Corporation and food stalls offer a variety of delicacies including Indori Chat, ice creams, cold drinks, South Indian dishes and Chinese food. The display and sale of carpets, saris, dress material, durries, bamboo crafts and woolens produced by self help groups besides bari, papad, pickles, sauces etc would be added attraction. Cultural evenings are organized every day during the festival featuring artists of national and international repute.

Contact
M P State Tourism Devt. Corpn. Ltd.
Gangotri, 4th Floor
T T Nagar, Bhopal 462003
Ph: (0755) - 554340 / 554341 / 554342g

Every year during the first quarter (January or February) Pattadakal celebrates the annual dance festival also called the Chalukya Utsava. Apart from Pattadakal the venues includes the nearby ancient sites Badami and Aihole too. This three days extravaganza of dance and music attracts hordes of art lovers. The majestic temple backdrops and the performance by renowned artists brings alive the magic of the bygone era.
Source: http://www.pattadakal.com

Contact
Dept. of Tourism
Govt. of Karnataka
F Block, 1st Floor
K G Road
Bangalore 560009
Ph: (080) - 2211186 / 2215489

The Puri Beach Festival is organised by Hotel & Restaurant Association of Orissa (HRAO) in November. The Festival showcases a number of attractive events to attract large number of tourists from far and near.

The 2004 festival (the 10th year) took place from 23rd to 27th November 2004.

Contact
Dept. of Tourism
Paryatan Bhawan
Museum Campus
Bhubaneswr - 751 014
Ph: (674) 2432177
email: ortour@orissatourism.gov.in

Department of Tourism, Bihar holds a colourful festival of dance and music, Rajgir Mahotsav at Rajgir in Bihar.

Contact
Dept.of Tourism
Govt. of Bihar
Ph: (0612) - 224531
Fax: (0612) - 236218

Sharadotsav, the annual Bharatanatyam festival is conducted by Sri Guruvayurappan Bhajan Samaj Trust featuring various artistes of national and international repute. Dancer Ranjani Ganesan organizes the festival.

Contact
"Padam Dance Company"
# 101, The Ranes, 195, 7th Road
Khar (W), Mumbai 400052
Ph: (022) - 26482329 / 65765431
e-mail: ranjani_ramesh2004@yahoo.comn

Puri represents the rich traditions and culture of its people manifested in its various festivals celebrated throughout the year. The two weeks long extravaganza of art and culture Shreekshetra Utsav is an authentic showcase of everything that's Orissa, offering handloom, cuisine, dance, music and its famed sand art.

Contact
Dept. of Tourism
Paryatan Bhawan
Museum Campus
Bhubaneswr - 751 014
Ph: (674) 2432177
email: ortour@orissatourism.gov.in

The Soorya classical music and dance festival is conducted for ten days every year in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala.It starts from 1st October and concludes on the 10th of October. The festival is organized by Soorya Stage and Film Society, one of the largest cultural societies in Asia. Founded by Soorya Krishnamoorthy, the society organises many programs including Dance and Music festivals, film festivals, theatre, painting, photography, lectures and talks, sound and light shows etc.

The Dance and Music festival presents different forms of dance like Kathak, Odissi, Manipuri, Bharathanatyam, Kathakali, Kuchipudi and Mohiniyattam as well as classical music renditions, instrumental music, jugal bandhis, etc by popular artists. Renowned dancers and musicians from all over India participate in this festival. Dancers such as Padma Subramaniam, Alarmel Valli, Chitra Viswesvaran, Lakshmi Gopalaswami, Rajendra-Nirupama and musicians such as Ustads Allah Rakha, Amjad Ali Khan, Bismillah Khan, Zakir Husain, Balamuralikrishna, Bhimsen Joshi are a few among the famous artistes who have performed here.

Another dance and music festival 'Parampara' is also held by Soorya in November every year to spot young talents. This festival is also held in Thiruvananthapuram, where artists pay tribute to their Gurus.

Contact
Soorya Stage and Film Society
Chaitanya, Thycaud
Thiruvananthapuram 695014
Ph: (0471) - 2323536
Fax: (0471) - 2323558
e-mail: soorya@asianetindia.com / sooryakrishnamoorthy@hotmail.com

Vasantahabba (Spring Festival) is an all-night festival of dance and music organized by Nrityagram every year.

Thirteen years after the first Vasantahabba, it is now considered the 'Woodstock' of classical dance and music in India. Living legends and leading artists congregate together, under one sky, to make Vasantahabba what it is - an unmissable treat!

The history of Vasantahabba is remarkable. From an audience of 3,000 in 1990, there were over 40,000 in 2003! The festival has been covered on the web and on television networks from around the world. And millions have witnessed the event LIVE on Doordarshan, the public broadcasting station of India.
Entry to Vasantahabba is FREE.

Past performers include Dr. Chitti Babu, Louis Banks, Beliappa & Dollu Kunita, Dr. B. Bhanumati, Pt. Vishwamohan Bhatt, Pt. Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Shri Kadri Gopalnath, Gundecha Brothers, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Dr. Doraiswamy Iyengar, Pt. Jasraj, Pt. Bhimsen Joshi, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Ganesh Kumaresh, Shankar Mahadevan, Guru Kelucharan Mahapatra, , Pt. Birju Maharaj, Aditi Mangaldas, Rajan Sajan Misra, Shubha Mudgal, Taufiq Qureshi, Smt. Malini Rajurkar, Guru Jayaram & Vanashree Rao, Raja-Radha Reddy, Smt. Veena Sahasrebuddhe, Leela Samson, Malavika Sarukkai, Aruna Sayeeram, Shashank, Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma, Daksha Sheth, Smt. Bharati Shivaji, Talvin Singh, Ranjabati Sircar, Sivamani, Dr. L. Subramaniam, Begum Parveen Sultana, Alarmel Valli, Pt. Vikku Vinayakram, Nasir & Nazir Warsi, amongst others.
Source:nrityagram.org/

Contact
Nrityagram
Hessaraghatta
Bangalore Rural District
Karnataka 5600088
Ph: (080) - 8466313 / 8466314
e-mail: nrityagram@vsnl.com

The West Zone Cultural Centre, Udaipur and District Administration Daman organized the festival from December 19 to 21, 2007 at Daman. The NEZCC participated in the festival by sending a Manipuri Raas team consisting of 16 members from Manipur.

A four day Bhagyachandra National Festival was organized by North East Zone Cultural Centre, Dimapur, Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, Kolkata and Department of Art & Culture, Government of Manipur from November 27 to 30, 2007 at Imphal Manipur.  

Organised by Indian Trade Promotion Organisation  

Contact
Dept. of Tourism
Paryatan Bhawan
Museum Campus
Bhubaneswr - 751 014
Ph: (674) 2432177
email: ortour@orissatourism.gov.in

A one day Folk Songs & Dance Festival was organized by North East Zone Cultural Centre, Dimapur and Cultural Affairs & Heritage Department, Government of Sikkim at Pakyong, Sikkim on July 7, 2007. Altogether 195 artistes from different parts of the State representing different communities/tribes of Sikkim participated in the festival. The presentation of folk songs and dances by the artistes in full traditional attire during the programme was a composite display of the beautiful culture of Sikkim.
Source: http://www.nezccindia.org

2008
The NEZCC participated in this prestigious festival by organizing folk dance troupes from the State of Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim. The troupes from Northeastern States presented colourful and vibrant traditional art forms of the region at different venues. The Khampti tribe from Arunachal Pradesh presented the Kaa - Kong Tokai (Cock fight) dance, and the Hajong tribe of Meghalaya presented a folk song and dance, the Mizoram troupe presents the “Sarlamkai/Solakia” “warrior” dance and the Mungyanta (Harvest dance) was performed by the women folk from Nagaland. The Maruni dance the oldest and most popular dance of the Nepalese from Sikkimwas also performed. Altogether 75 artistes participated in the event.
 

The festival was organized by Sree Sree Radha Madab Sanskriti Samanwaya Committee, Agartala from November 21 to 25, 2007 at Agartala, Tripura. The NEZCC (The North East Zone Cultural Centre) Co-sponsored the programme.
 

A two day National Classical Dance festival was organized by the North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC), Dimapur in collaboration with Department of Information, Cultural Affairs & Tourism, Government of Tripura on August 27 & 28, 2007 at Rabindra Shatabarshiki Bhawan, Agartala. The Classical dance festival was organized with the view to promote the Classical art forms in North East States and to provide opportunity to the artistes from the region. The remarkable classical dance participated from EZCC, Kokata, SCZCC, Nagur, Manipur, Assam and Tripura.
 

2007
A one day North East Folk dance festival was organized by NEZCC in collaboration with the Department of Art & Culture, Government of Meghalaya on December 06, 2007 at New Nongstoin, Meghalaya. The following folk troupes from Manipur, Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya performed in the festival viz: Pungcholom, Lai Haraoba and Thang - ta from Manipur, Hozagiri dance from Tripura, Chicken dance was presented by Chakhesang Zuve Cultural Troupe, Dimapur, Nagaland and Lepcha dance, Sikkim besides other local troupes from Meghalaya who presented the Drum and Lahoo dance.

2008
A two day North East Folk Dance Festival was organized by North East Zone Cultural Centre in collaboration with Department of Art & Culture, Government of Arunachal Pradesh on January 14 & 15, 2008 at Parasuram Kund, Arunachal Pradesh.
 

The NEZCC participated in the three – day Festival of Tribal Arts, “PRAKRITI”, organized by the Ministries of Culture and Tribal Affairs in association with the Zonal Cultural Centres and Sangeet Natak Akademi from December 5 to 7, 2007 at New Delhi. The NEZCC participated in the festival alongwith three cultural troupes from the Northeastern States consisting of 18 members each from the State of Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Nagaland and presented the Lion & Peacock dance, Lahoo dance and Khupielili dance.
 

The Shilpgram Utsav was organized by West Zone Cultural Centre, Udaipur from December 21 to 30, 2007 at Shilpgram, Udaipur. The NEZCC participated in the Utsav by sending the following 5 folk dance troupes - Maibi Laichung Jagoi, Manipur, Singhi Chham, Dimasa Kachari, Nagaland, Bagrumba & Bordoishikla, Assam, Dhol Dholok Cholom, Manipur.