37th Kathak Mahotsav 2025: A Grand Celebration of Dance & Literature

The 37th Kathak Mahotsav 2025, organized by Kathak Kendra, New Delhi, a constituent unit of Sangeet Natak Akademi, concluded successfully in New Delhi. This six-day festival was a landmark event, featuring the world’s first-ever Kathak Literary Festival along with seminars, exhibitions, and captivating dance performances. The festival showcased all major Kathak gharanas—Lucknow, Jaipur, Banaras, and Raigarh—through performances by distinguished artists. The event also focused on royal patronage, evolution of Kathak bols, and literary documentation, making it an unforgettable celebration of both the artistic and intellectual aspects of Kathak.

Key Highlights of the 37th Kathak Mahotsav 2025

1. Unique Features of the Festival

• First-ever Kathak Literary Festival highlighting Kathak’s literary heritage.
• Walk-through exhibition showcasing manuscripts, historical influences, and artistic evolution.
• Seminars & discussions featuring renowned scholars, focusing on royal patronage, evolution of bols, and manuscript significance.
• Kathak dance concerts held daily, covering solo, duet, and group recitals.

2. Distinguished Guests & Participants

Notable attendees

• Dr. Vinay Sahashrabuddhe, former MP & ex-President of ICCR.
• Maharaj Pusparaj Singh of Rewa.
• Dr. Amarendra Khatua (IFS), former Director General (ICCR).
• Dr. Sarita Pathak, renowned vocalist & author.

Eminent performers and scholars

• Pt. Ramlal Bareth (Bilaspur), Dr. Puru Dadheech & Dr. Vibha Dadheech (Indore), Dr. Purnima Pande (Lucknow), Prof. Bharat Gupt (Gurgaon), Saswati Sen, Vaswati Mishra (Delhi), Dr. Nandakishore Kapote (Pune), Dr. Shovana Narayan (Delhi), Shri Vishal Krishna (Banaras), and many others.

3. Leadership & Direction

• Smt. Pranaame Bhagawati, Director of Kathak Kendra, led the festival with an innovative and visionary approach.
• Her direction emphasized aesthetic excellence and inclusion of all major Kathak gharanas.

4. Literary & Scholarly Contributions

• Scholarly discussions documented and published as part of a curated book collection.
• Book fair showcasing newly published books on Kathak’s literary and artistic heritage.

5. Grand Finale at Kamani Auditorium

Special guests included,

• Smt. Amita Prasad Sarabhai, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Culture.
• Dr. Sandhya Purecha, Chairman, Sangeet Natak Akademi.
• A full-house audience witnessed traditional Kathak performances, celebrating its rich legacy.

6. Future Vision for Kathak

• The festival demonstrated Kathak Kendra’s commitment to innovation and artistic expansion.
• Plans to further elevate the scope of Kathak through new approaches and global collaborations.