‘Saare Jahan Se Accha’: A classical dance festival

The Utsav Educational and Cultural Society, founded by Odissi exponent Guru Ranjana Gauhar, will present the 20th edition of Saare Jahan Se Accha on Tuesday and Wednesday, August 12 and 13, at the Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. The performances will begin at 6:30 PM on both evenings and entry is free for the public.

Started in 2005 by Guru Gauhar as a tribute to India’s independence, the festival has grown into a respected platform for Indian classical dance. This year’s edition is dedicated to the memory of her guru, the late Guru Mayadhar Raut, a pioneering figure in the Odissi tradition.

The opening evening will feature Nal-Damayanti, a new dance production choreographed by Guru Gauhar. Inspired by the Mahabharata, the production will combine Odissi and Chhau dance styles with computer-generated visuals, offering a unique blend of tradition and digital storytelling.

The evening will also include the Utsav Samman – Lifetime Achievement Awards, which will be presented to Guru Geeta Mahalik (Odissi), Guru Geeta Chandran (Bharatanatyam), and dance historian and critic Prof Ashish Mohan Khokar.

The second day of the festival will showcase a series of solo and group classical dance performances by renowned artists and disciples from across India and abroad. These include Dr. Sunanda Nair (Mohiniyattam), Guru Deepika Reddy & disciples (Kuchipudi), Guru Vidha Lal & disciples (Kathak), Guru Shrimati Madkholkar (Bharatanatyam), and students of Guru Ranjana Gauhar (Odissi).

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Guru Gauhar is a recipient of the Padma Shri and Sangeet Natak Akademi awards, and has worked extensively to promote classical dance through performances, training, and cultural outreach. Over the last two decades, her festival has become a platform for artistic excellence and cultural continuity.

When: August 12-13; 6:30 PM onwards

Where: Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi