7 January 2025/
INDIAN CLASSICAL ARTS AT THE DURGAPUR DANCE AND MUSIC FESTIVAL 2024
The Durgapur Dance and Music Festival 2024 (DDMF), organized by Nrityabritti Batayan, celebrated its 6th year on December 21, 2024, at the Srijani Auditorium in Durgapur.
This grand event, attended by dignitaries Shri Pradip Mazumdar, the Minister of Panchayat and Rural Development of West Bengal and Shri Narendranath Chakroborty (MLA, West Bengal), showcased the rich heritage of Indian classical arts. Esteemed guests of honor included Dr. Sourav Chatterjee (SDM of Durgapur), Kabi Dutta (Chairman of Asansol-Durgapur Development Association), Smt Anindita Mukherjee, Guru T Sankaranarayanan and Tarun Bose.
Under the guidance of festival director Kalamandalam Swarnadeepa Mahanta, the festival has become a beacon of artistic excellence, drawing distinguished artists and passionate audiences from across India. It remains one of the few events in West Bengal that honors the Indian Classical Arts, offering a spectacular confluence of dance, music and cultural heritage.
The Durgapur Dance and Music Festival 2024 marked a mesmerizing showcase of Indian classical arts.
Guru Ashim Bandhu Bhattacharya’s Kathak choreography, “Fire,” set the stage ablaze with intricate movements. Pandit Iman Das’s Hindustani music performance transported the audience to a musical wonderland with his soulful aalaaps and rhythmic taans. The disciples of Anjika School of Dance, under Guru Priti Patel, brought the vibrant North-East Indian culture to life with their traditional Pung Cholom and Dhol Cholom. The festival also featured a beautiful Bharatanatyam composition by Kalamandalam Kolkata and a brilliant Kuchipudi performance by Kum. Rithika Kumbaldine, showcasing the rich diversity of Indian classical dance.
One of the highlights of the Durgapur Dance and Music Festival was the conferring of the Guru Jiten Singh Award on the illustrious Guru Ashim Bandhu, underscoring the festival’s dedication to honoring excellence in classical arts. The “Kalamandalam Goutam Ghosal Sarok Samman,” initiated in 2023 to honor the late Kalamandalam Goutam Ghosh, was awarded jointly to Guru Priti Patel and Guru Ravi Kuchipudi. Beyond performances, DDMF served as a platform for cultural exchange and inspiration, allowing young artists to share the stage with seasoned luminaries. The festival concluded with a captivating performance by the students of Nrityabritti Batayan, blending tradition with youthful enthusiasm, leaving the audience in awe and celebrating talent and artistry.
A LEGACY OF CULTURAL ENRICHMENT
Founded in 2015, the Durgapur Dance and Music Festival cultivates interest in Indian Classical art forms and spreads the essence of Indian culture. With over 19 years of legacy, the institute, led by Kalamandalam Swarnadeepa Mahanta, has enriched Durgapur’s cultural landscape through numerous programs and workshops, both in India and abroad.
