Konark Music and Dance Festival are held every year in the backdrop of Konark Sun Temple in Orissa. Classical dancers from different areas of the country come to showcase their skills and talents.
Handicrafts and sculptures are put on display to portray the history of the temple. Held every year, this festival attracts dancers and musicians from all around the country who are popular in different fields of music and dance.
2024 Dates of Konark Dance Festival
It is held on February 19, 2024. It is held at Konark amphitheatre with the façade of Sun temple showing from the magnificent backdrop. The festival starts at 6.30 pm and ends at 9.30 pm. After the festival, you can roam about the many stalls set up in the area.
Konark Dance Festival Ticket Price
The festival is held as a non-profit event for charity with the proceeds going to needy schools and hospitals. A one-day pass costs about Rs. 1,000 per head and VIP Gold Pass Ticket costs about Rs. 10,000 per head. There are a couple of packages which include accommodations, VIP access, and breakfast which costs about Rs. 25,000.
Schedule and Other details Konark Dance Festival
- Enjoy the night with the heartwarming performances of international dancers and artists as they will set the stage on fire.
- Odissi, Kathak, Kuchipudi, Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, etc. are some classical dance forms displayed on the stage for the entire three nights.
- Tribal dances from Rajasthan, Goa, Gujarat, Bihar, etc. are also played along with electrical instruments. The sounds of flute, veena, and drums create a melody in the ears.
- The breeze and cascading cashew and casuarina trees create a perfect ambiance for the artistic evening.
- Framed artists including Deb Shankar, Jyoti Shankar Roy, Nandini Singh, Rupashree Mohapatra, Meenakshi Seshadri, Padma Subramaniyam, etc. will treat your eyes to classical and tribal dance forms till evening at 9.30 pm.
The crafts bazaar set outside has artisans from all over the country selling embroidered clothes, handicrafts, jewelry, carved seashells, woodwork, Patta paintings on palm leaves, etc. The food stalls present will take you on a tour of Indian cuisine. The culinary delicacies will delight your taste buds as well.
Where to stay in Konark?
To save your finances, you can opt for a cheaper stay at Konark. You can find budget hotels starting from Rs. 700 for non-air-conditioned rooms while air-conditioned rooms start at Rs. 1,000. Yatri Nivas Konark is the guest house that is close to the venue as well. You can also stay at Puri if you have many visitors coming in. You can hire a vehicle which can be as cheap as Rs. 400 per day.
History of the festival
The Konark Festival started with the intention to revive the classical dance forms to integrate them into the Mainstream Indian diaspora.
The first festival started in 1986 at Konark Natya Mandap. Padmashree Guru Gangadhar Pradhan initiates beautiful classical dance forms ranging from Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, Odissi, etc. in the picturesque Konark Temple.
The temple was built by King Narasimha Deva in 1225 as a tribute to Sun God. The beauty of the temple and carved out of stone to resemble the chariot pulled by seven horses. The temple is visited by millions of tourists every day.
Dos and don’ts at the Festival
- Do not litter the ground
- Keep your belongings to yourself and safe
- Take a bottle to keep yourself hydrated
The dress code at the Konark Music and Dance Festival
Wear light and comfortable clothes for the festival as you have to move a lot. Cotton, light wool, and linen are better. Men can choose tees, trousers, shirts, etc.
Other things to keep in mind
February is a pleasant time to visit Orissa. Try out Bengali and Odisha cuisines on the way. Bengali fish is famous the world over for its flavors and taste. Rasgulla is another thing you should have in mind. Seashells, conches, fabrics, etc. are some things you should not miss.
Find out the articles for dance and music festivals in India:
What are the dates for the Konark Sun temple dance festival dates in 2022? How to buy tickets?
Like to see dance festible for 2 days& other light & shade show inclusive of accommodation at konark
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