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Konark
Dance Festival - An ideal choice for not the monuments, beaches and
scenic beauties only but Konark is also well known for its colorful
festivals. Eminent classical dancers from all over the country get
together from Dec. 1 to Dec. 5 to pay tribute to a master piece in
stone- Sun temple at Konark. This classical extravaganza is a pure
ecstasy.
The Konark
dance festival is organized by eminent Odissi guru Gangadhar
Pradhan's Orissa Dance Academy in association with the Eastern Zonal
Cultural Centre, Kolkata at Konark Natya Mandap in Konark. As the
sun sets, the open air auditorium gains life in the form of musical
beats and rhythmic movements under the star lit sky. With the poem
in stone at the backdrop, the festival proves to be a true cultural
feast. A celebration of Odissi, Bharathnatyam, Manipuri, Kathak and
Chau Dances; the festival truly comes as a lavish feast for the eyes
and ears. The sound of Ghungroo bells, flute and Pakhauj add on to
the festive mood.
A crafts
mela is also put up during the Konark Dance festival. Serving a wide
array of delectable cuisines and a variety of handicrafts, this mela
adds more fun to the festival thus making it a perfect venue for a
family get together on a holiday or a joyous experience to the
tourists.
The festival
is a potential platform for the performing artiste and the dance
connoisseurs both. It also comes as a right opportunity for the
budding artists who are yet to make their presence felt on the
international scale.
The enthralling Konark Dance Festival is held every year, from 1
to 5 December, in Konark, in the backdrop of the mammoth Sun Temple.
The festival has made the famous tourist destination that the Konark
is even more attractive in the eyes of the tourists.
The mega event is held in an open Natya Mandir (Dance Hall), on
the Chandrabhaga Beach, Konark. The Konark Dance Festival showcases
the best of the traditional and classical dance forms of India,
besides offering interesting insights into the rich cultural and
dance heritage of the country like no one else
The leading exponents and dance enthusiasts of almost all main
classical dance forms of India--including Odissi, Bharatanatyam,
Manipuri, Kathakali, and Chao--take part in the five-day classical
dance carnival much adding to the appeal of the event that has few
parallels elsewhere.
During the Festival, the entire Konark reverberates with the sounds
of the Ghungroo Bells, Flute and Pakhawaj. The elegant gestures,
sensuous body language, and expressive faces of the dancers enthrall
the visitors, especially the dance connoisseurs, no end. No wonder,
the Konark Dance Festival is a big hit with the travellers, from
both India and abroad.
How to Reach Puri
Reaching Puri through Rail - Puri is a terminus on the
East Coast Railway having direct express and super fast train links
with New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Okha, Ahmedabad, Tirupati etc. Some
important trains are Kolkata (Howrah) Puri Howrah Express, Jagannath
Express; New Delhi; Purushottam Express. Khurda Road Station, 44 km,
from Puri is convenient rail head for train to Chennai and Western
India.
The station is about one km North of the town. Cycle rickshaws
and auto rickshaws compete aggressively to get you to a hotel.
Reaching Puri through Road - The bus stand near the
Gundicha Temple provides connections to Bhubaneswar and Cuttack,
service every 10-15 minutes. Minibuses to Konark leave every 20-30
minutes and also from Jatiababa Chhak. There are direct buses for
Kolkata and Visakhapatnam.
Getting around puri - cycle rickshaws are available all over
town. Auto rickshaws are also available but every few in numbers.
Bicycle, moped or a motorcycle can be hired easily from several
outlets on the Chakratirtha (CT) Road for trips to the coast and to
Konark. Most travel agents in the city provide this service.
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