Classical doyens & culture carnival: Khajuraho to dance beyond tradition

Bhopal: The timeless magic of Khajuraho is ready to unfold in a grander, more immersive avatar as the Khajuraho Dance Festival returns from Feb 20 to 26, blending classical purity with folk vibrance, young talent and living traditions from across India. While the festival's soul — evening classical dance recitals before the floodlit Kandariya Mahadev temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site — remains untouched, the canvas has widened dramatically this year."The classical core of Khajuraho fest will stay absolutely undiluted," said Sheo Shekhar Shukla, additional chief secretary, culture, "But around it, we are creating a fuller cultural universe that is more inclusive and wide-ranging." A key new addition is the Baal Nritya Samaroh (Feb 20–26), a curated platform for gifted child dancers selected from across the state. Designed as a grooming ground, it aims to nurture future classical stars through exposure, confidence-building and serious performance experience.Running parallel in the daytime will be a sprawling cultural carnival at Shilpgram, spread over nearly 45 acres. Folk and tribal dance forms, indigenous music, travel narratives, handicrafts and souvenir bazaars from multiple states will turn the space into a vibrant, moving museum of India's cultural diversity, from Feb 18, two days before the main fest, said the ACS."This is about giving space to folk, tribal and local art forms alongside classical excellence," Shukla said, adding, "Visitors will see performances, attend workshops, watch live craft demonstrations and interact directly with artists and performers." Notably, the expanded format is being powered through CSR and private participation, without burdening the state exchequer. "From February 18 onwards, Khajuraho will be in complete festival mode," Shukla added, "For cultural travellers, there couldn't be a better time to visit."