Tourism News

KERALA TOURISM NEWSLETTER

Nishagandhi Dance Festival Ends on a High Note

Curtains have fallen on the 2017 edition of the Nishagandhi Dance Festival, a week-long extravaganza of classical dances. The Odissi dance performance by Aruna Mohanty and group which kick-started the festival on the inaugural day was followed by six nights of spectacular performances by renowned names in the industry.

Eminent dancers like Padma Shri Geetha Chandran, Sujatha Mohapatra, Padma Shri Darshana Jhaveri & Group, Vidha Lal & Abhimanyu Lal among others enthralled the audience. As part of the festival, a Kathakali and Kuttiyattam Fest was also held at the Palace Auditorium. Eminent artistes like Padma Shri Kalamandalam Gopi, Nelliyodu Vasudevan Namboothiri, Kalamandalam Balasubramanian, Margi Vijayakumar, Pathiyoor Shankaran Kutty, Margi Narayanan Chakyar, Margi Raman Chakyar and Margi Usha performed at the event. 

The festival was inaugurated by Mr. Justice (Retd.) P. Sathasivam, Hon'ble Governor of Kerala, at the Kanakakunnu Palace grounds. Mohiniyattom exponent Bharati Shivaji was bestowed with this year’s Nishagandhi Puraskaram by the Governor at the inaugural ceremony.

Mr. Kadakampally Surendran, Hon’ble Minister for Tourism, presided over the inaugural function. Dr. Venu V., Principal Secretary, Kerala Tourism, Mr. V. K. Prasanth, Mayor, Thiruvananthapuram, and Mr. M. Raghudasan, Additional Director, Kerala Tourism, spoke at the event.