Annual Khajuraho Dance Festival From Feb20 

Bhopal: Myriad forms of classical dance in India will be on dispaly at a festival beginning in Khajuraho from February 20. The week-long Khajuraho Dance Festival at the temple town in Chhatarpur district is being organised by the culture department of the Madhya Pradesh government.

The February 20-26 festival will showcase classical dances including Kathak, Odissi, Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathakali and Mohiniattam to name a few, an official said.

"This festival of classical dances and other forms of art is held annually against the spectacular backdrop of the magnificently-lit Khajuraho temples in Chhatarpur district," said Manoj Shrivastava, Principal Secretary, Department of Culture. This is 45th year of this event, he said. Modern Indian contemporary dance forms were added in the festival in the recent times. During the festival, dances are performed in an open- air auditorium, usually in front of the Chitragupta Temple dedicated to the Sun God and the Vishwanatha Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.

The temples at Khajuraho, built by the Chandela dynasty between 950 AD and 1050 AD, are world-wide known for their erotic sculptures. "This year, the Art Mart (which is part of the festival) would showcase paintings of international artists from Germany, France and China among other countries," he added.

PTI