Madhya Pradesh CM inaugurates 50th Khajuraho Dance Festival, 2024

The 50th Khajuraho Dance Festival, 2024 was inaugurated by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on February 20, with a series of programs listed till the 26th of this month. 

Various dance styles, especially classical, will be performed on stage during these days. 

With an aim to promote tourism in the state, more than 1500 Kathak artistes will participate in the Kathak Kumbh on the first day of the dance festival.

About Khajuraho Dance Festival

• Khajuraho Dance Festival began in 1975 and has been successfully organized by the Ustad Alauddin Khan Academy of Music and Arts under the Culture Department of Madhya Pradesh.
• A platform for all dance styles
• Artistes from across the country are set to participate in the festival of Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Odissi, Kuchiudi and other dance styles. Some of the names who performed at the festival include Padmashree Ranjana Gauhar, Padmashree Nalini Kamalini, Padmashree Dr Sonal Mansigh and Pandit Rajendra Gangani.

Khajuraho Group of Monuments

• The Khajuraho Group of Monuments is a group of Hindu temples and Jain temples in the Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh, India, about 175 kilometers (109 mi) south-east of Jhansi. They are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These temples are famous for the symbolism of their Nagara-style architecture and their erotic sculptures.
• Most of the Khajuraho temples were built by the Chandela dynasty between 950 and 1050. Historical records show that the Khajuraho temple site had 85 temples by the 12th century, spread over 20 square kilometres, of which only 25 temples, spread over six square kilometres.
• Among the surviving temples, the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple stands out for its abundance of sculptures, showcasing intricate details, symbolism, and ancient Indian art expressions.
• The temples are Varaha, Lakshmana, Matangeshwar, Kandariya Mahadev, Chitragupta, Parvati, Vishwanath and Nandi.
• The group of temples at Khajuraho were built simultaneously but were dedicated to two religions, Hinduism and Jainism, suggesting a tradition of accepting and respecting diverse religious ideas among Hindus and Jains in the region.