Nalanda Nritya Kala Mahavidyalaya’s annual classical dance festival, Nalanda Nrityotsava 2025, was held from January 10th to 13th, bringing together some of the finest talents in Bharatanatyam, Mohiniyattam, Kathak, Kuchipudi, and Odissi. The festival, a tribute to the rich traditions of Indian dance, witnessed mesmerizing performances and honored luminaries of the performing arts. The highlight of the festival was the third day, January 12th, when Nalanda premiered its grand dance production, Asamatvam Ayogyam. Conceptualized and choreographed by Dr. Guru Uma Rele, this innovative production explored the confluence of four classical dance forms—Bharatanatyam, Mohiniyattam, Odissi, and Kathak—through narratives from the Mahabharata. The production unfolded through the journey of the seven chakras, each representing deep-seated human emotions, reflecting the imbalances within them. This remarkable performance featured powerful portrayals of iconic characters, including Gandhari (Dr. Uma Rele), Shikhandi (Dr. Vaidehi Rele Lal), Lord Krishna (Taamohar Biswas), Draupadi (Radhika Nair) and Kunti (Prarthana Patil), supported by a talented ensemble of Nalanda students.
The evening continued with Nalanda’s Bharata Muni Samman 2024, honoring legendary figures like Suresh Wadkar, Sunaina Hazarilal, followed by the Kanaka Nartana Puraskaar, which was conferred upon Gauri Sharma Tripathi, Gayatri Sriram, Sai Venkatesh, Vijay Shanker, Latasana Devi, and Rabindra Atibudhi for their exceptional contributions to dance. Scholarships and academic excellence awards were also presented, encouraging the next generation of artists.
The festival began on January 10th with spellbinding performances by Anjali Hariharan (Bharatanatyam, Chennai), Mr. Thomas Vo Van Tao (Mohiniyattam, France), Kavya Pujara (Bharatanatyam, Ahmedabad), and Rutuja Nadkarni (Kathak, Mumbai). January 11th featured Shravani Sai Ram (Bharatanatyam, Bengaluru), Mr. Sk Washim Raja (Kuchipudi, New Delhi), Simran Cherayil (Bharatanatyam, Mumbai), Nayanika Gangani (Kathak, Haryana), Mr. Karthik Manikandan (Bharatanatyam, Kerala), and Mr. Varun Shivakumara (Bharatanatyam, Chennai). The final day, January 13th, concluded the festival with Mehak Chawla (Bharatanatyam, New Delhi), Mr. Tamal Das (Odissi, Kolkata), Anushka Ramanathan (Bharatanatyam, Mumbai), S. Vaidehi (Kathak, Bengaluru), and Ananya Mohan Iyer (Bharatanatyam, Mumbai).
Nalanda Nrityotsava 2025 concluded on January 13th with another spectacular evening of classical performances, leaving audiences spellbound and reinforcing the festival’s legacy of artistic excellence. This celebration of cultural heritage continues to inspire, ensuring the preservation and propagation of India’s rich dance traditions.
