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.

Summary/Static	Details
Why in the news?	37th Kathak Mahotsav 2025: A Grand Celebration of Dance & Literature
Organized By	Kathak Kendra, New Delhi (Sangeet Natak Akademi)
Duration	Six days
Location	New Delhi
Key Highlight	World’s first-ever Kathak Literary Festival
Additional Features	Walk-through exhibition, seminars, book fair, dance concerts
Major Kathak Gharanas Represented	Lucknow, Jaipur, Banaras, Raigarh
Renowned Attendees	Dr. Vinay Sahashrabuddhe, Maharaj Pusparaj Singh, Dr. Amarendra Khatua, Dr. Sarita Pathak
Key Performers & Scholars	Pt. Ramlal Bareth, Dr. Puru & Vibha Dadheech, Dr. Shovana Narayan, Saswati Sen, Vishal Krishna, and others
Grand Finale Venue	Kamani Auditorium, New Delhi
Special Guests on Final Day	Smt. Amita Prasad Sarabhai, Dr. Sandhya Purecha
Leadership	Directed by Smt. Pranaame Bhagawati
Impact	Strengthened the literary and artistic legacy of Kathak
Future Vision	Expanding the global presence and intellectual depth of Kathak