Konark Dance Festival
Indian classical dance performed on an open-air stage beside Odisha's thirteenth-century Sun Temple.
The Sun Temple at Konark was built in the thirteenth century as a colossal stone chariot for Surya, the sun god — twenty-four carved wheels along its base, drawn by seven horses. Much of the main tower has collapsed, but what remains is covered in relief carving, a great deal of it depicting musicians and dancers. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The festival sets classical dance in front of that backdrop, on an open-air stage beside the temple. Odissi, the classical form of Odisha, is central, and its vocabulary is closely related to the poses carved on the monument itself. Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kuchipudi, Manipuri and other classical repertoires are usually also programmed across the run.
Konark sits between Puri and Bhubaneswar on the coastal road, with the beach a short distance away. Early December evenings are mild. A sand art festival is often held on the beach nearby at the same time.
The festival is organised by Odisha’s tourism authorities and the dates are announced each year.