Destination Odisha
The Konark Dance and Music Festival of Orissa is founded in the year 1986 at Konark Natya Mandap by Padmashree Guru Gangadhar Pradhan, The Konark Dance Festibal is held at the open air theatre of the Konark Natya Mandap, a prototype of famous Konark Temple.
The Festival, held every year in February, brings together many artistes on one platform, therby fostering international cultural amity and brotherhood. With the konark Temple as the backdrop, the KNP throbs with dazzling performances of Odissi, Kathak, chau, Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi, Manipuri, Mohiniattam and other classical folk and tribaldances/music of India. The Konark Dance festival is a potential platform for both performing and connoisseurs of dance. It also comes as a right opportunity for the budding artists who are yet to make their presence felt at the international level. The festival goes a long way to sustain and contribute to the growth of the rich cultural traditions of Orissa.
A world heritage monument, the Sun Temple of Narasimhadeva is an exquisite specimen of orissan architecture and depicts the life and times of the 13th century Orissa. Twelve hundred craftsmen toiled hard for 12 long years to erect this monumental wonder.
The dramatically choreographed dance festival is held in an open air auditorium north of the Sun Temple.
Apart from the cultural extravaganza, the Konark Festival venue hosts a crafts and food mela, an Artist Camp where Orissan temple sculpture, sand art exhibition, etc.
