Detailed Information about Konark Dance and Music Festival & Its Importance

India is a unique blend of the cultures that have enriched the Indian subcontinent with music, dance forms, the cuisines and traditional practices. The country spreads from the Himalayas in the north to the beaches of the south has got totally different and jubilant colors of celebration that entice every heart visiting the country and even its own people. The people take pride to participate in these festivals to showcase their talents and the also their traditional practices passed down the ages. Broadly speaking of the music, India has got two major musical forms the north Indian classical music or the Hindustani musical form and the other is the south Indian classical music or the Carnatic form of the music. On the beats of these music have evolved many Indian dance forms such as the Odissi, the Bharatnatyam, the Kathak, the Bihu, the Kathakali, Mohiniattam, Chau, Manipuri etc. Giving a platform to these dance forms is the famous Konark dance and the music festival.

The Konark music and the dance festival is held in the backdrop of the famous sun temple of Konark from the 19th to the 23rd of February every year that is a major attraction in itself of South India and also a world heritage site. The festival started in the year 1986 and since then it is being held every year and attracts the young talents from across the country to show case their talents. Padmshree Guru Gangadhar Pradhan is credited to the founding of this mega event. The event takes place at the "dancing hall" or the "Natyamandir". The walls of this hall are beautifully sculptured with the images of the dancing Odissi poses. Not a single inch is bare off with the sculpture and hence gives the festival a totally exquisite ambience for performance. It is considered an honor for the artists to perform at the dance hall during the festival.

The festival gives a strong aesthetic feeling along with the spiritual experience to the viewers as the various artists perform on the stage. The festivals is a held with the aim of the promoting brotherhood and the sharing of the classical and the tribal forms of the music native to the India and also from around the globe. The artists perform under the open sky in the dance hall. Apart from the traditional Indian instruments as the Tabla, Ghungroo, the Flute, the Pakhauj, the Sitar, the Santoor, the Shehnai, the Cymbals etc. a lot of new instruments can be witnessed playing at the festival thus giving a feast for the eyes and the ears of for the viewers.

Keeping aside the main event there is also a fair organized alongside the festival that gives the visitors a chance to choose from the wonderful pieces of artistic handicrafts and also the delectable cuisines of the Indian and the major international flavors. The festival celebrated its silver jubilee in the year 2010. The festival has been of great help to the tourism of the state and is held by the Odiissi research centre and the Odisha tourism department.