Modhera Dance Festival is an annual carnival of Gujarat organized against the backdrop of the mesmerizing beauty of the Sun Temple of Modhera. Also known as the Uttarardh Mahotsav, it’s a celebration of art, music, dance, and culture of Gujarat. It’s a platform that brings together the cultural ethos of various regions depicted in the form of dance or nritya. The festival is known for the graceful and sophisticated classical dance performances performed by talented dancers.
Sun Temple of Modhera
The Sun Temple of Modhera which hosts this festival is considered to be an architectural masterpiece that narrates the Golden Age of the Solanki Empire. The complex mainly contains 3 parts- the shrine hall, the assembly hall, and the reservoir. While the halls have intricately carved pillars, the reservoir contains steps leading to the bottom where there are numerous smaller shrines.
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Association of Art and Architecture
Indian History suggests that the classical dance forms and temple architectures share an important connection. In the ancient times, dance performances in the vicinity of temple venerated God while conveying messages to the social strata. Earlier, Nagar Utsav was organized in the temples’ vicinity, so in order to revive the tradition, the Gujarat Government decided to celebrate the annual festival as a token of respect to the rich cultural legacy of the state.
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The Festival is going to take place from 19th January to 21st January where various art and dance Connoisseurs would gather from all across the world. Both classical, as well as folk dances, are performed at the festival and several people attend the event to witness the cultural extravaganza.
