Khajuraho dance festival begins today on temple premises after 44 years

The ASI gave the go-ahead to the state government to conduct the festival indoors following Union culture and tourism minister Prahlad Singh Patel's intervention.

Published on: Feb 20, 2021, 11:20:22 IST

By Shruti Tomar

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The six-day Khajuraho Dance Festival will begin on Saturday at the UNESCO World Heritage site in Madhya Pradesh, known for its ancient Hindu and Jain temples. It is being held on the temple premises after 44 years following the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) permission. The ASI has also waived the fee for conducting the festival this year.

Culture and tourism department principal secretary Sheo Shekhar Shukla said they will organise the festival for the promotion of heritage with utmost care. (Videograb)

“The dance festival was introduced 46 years ago on the premises to promote heritage and tourism. But ASI cancelled the permission after the reports of destruction of monuments and defacement of idols. For the past 44 years, the state government has been organising the festival in an open garden developed near Western Group of Temples," said a state culture department official, who did not wish to be named.

The ASI gave the go-ahead to the state government to conduct the festival indoors following Union culture and tourism minister Prahlad Singh Patel's intervention.

Patel said Khajuraho has been added to the list of 19 iconic world tourism sites and they want to make the festival more popular and attractive for national as well as international tourists. "Hence, the ASI granted permission to the state government.” He said the state government will ensure the safety and security of the monuments.

Former ASI superintendent (Bhopal) Narayan Vyas said the permission for conducting the festival on the temple premises was cancelled to protect the monuments from thieves and anti-social elements as some idols were damaged during the event in 1976.

“The performances are organised late at night and it is tough to keep a watch on spectators. There is a risk that idols at the monuments can be stolen or defaced by participants or spectators. To promote tourism at a popular site through dance festival is not a wise decision,” he said.

Culture and tourism department principal secretary Sheo Shekhar Shukla said they will organise the festival for the promotion of heritage with utmost care. We will take care of both the safety and security of temples and idols,” he said. “We have designed the festival to attract tourists to boost the economy of the area. Khajuraho’s economy is mostly dependent upon international tourists. During Covid 19 pandemic, local guides, artisans and hoteliers are facing a tough time due to the decrease of the footfall of international and national tourists."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shruti Tomar
I have spent over a decade chronicling Madhya Pradesh’s political and social landscape, covering politics, investigative journalism, crime, human interest, and government policy, blending sharp insight with ground‑level depth. I have closely tracked three assembly elections, three Lok Sabha elections, leadership transitions in MP while exposing governance lapses, tender irregularities, and flawed policy rollouts. My reports have revealed gaps in the Cheetah project, irregularities in medical education, rigging in recruitment exams, and loopholes in policy implementation. In crime reporting, I have moved beyond FIRs to map systemic patterns — from organised crime networks and gender‑based violence to custodial accountability — balancing urgency with sensitivity. My journalism is defined by a commitment to human interest. I have profiled the marginalised Bancchda community, documented atrocities against tribal groups, and highlighted efforts to preserve their culture through heritage liquor and revival of spiritual practices. I have reported on farmers struggling with failed MSP promises, giving voice to those often reduced to statistics in policy files. Passionate about field reporting, I have reported on rampant sand mining in Chambal and Narmada, pharmaceutical companies supplying medicines under altered names, the dire condition of schools and colleges, the plight of commercial sex workers, and skewed sex ratios in specific districts. Beyond deadlines, and as HT’s state correspondent and assistant editor in Madhya Pradesh, I engage with ministers, farmers, students, and activists, believing the best policy stories begin with a single human voice. A postgraduate in Journalism and Mass Communication, I also hold a diploma in sports journalism.Read More

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