Lalit Arpan Festival: A Beacon of Classical Arts Reimagined

The 23rd Lalit Arpan Festival celebrates classical performing arts with solo and group acts at the India Habitat Centre from October 14-15. Organized by dance icon Shovana Narayan, this year's event features a contemporary dance-drama on Mahabharata's female characters and aims to support young artists.

The 23rd Lalit Arpan Festival will soon enliven the cultural landscape of the capital, kicking off on October 14 at the India Habitat Centre. This two-day event is a vibrant celebration of classical performing arts, featuring both solo and group presentations that promise to captivate audiences with emotional depth and rhythmic brilliance.

Helmed by the esteemed Kathak maestro Shovana Narayan, in collaboration with Asavari dance school, the festival will open with an evocative dance-drama titled 'Stree Spandan: Why I did what I did'. This contemporary piece explores the inner struggles of Mahabharata's female characters through performances by renowned dancers Narayan (Kathak), Gopika Varma (Mohiniyattam), and Sharon Lowen (Odissi).

Since its inception in 2002 by Narayan, Jyotsna Suri, and the late tabla maestro Ustad Shafaat Ahmed Khan, the festival has become a pivotal platform for nurturing young talent and enhancing the visibility of rising artists. The festival, which concludes on October 15, also includes spellbinding Kathak and Bharatanatyam recitals by Parveen Parihar and Rama Vaidyanathan.

(With inputs from agencies.)