Rajgir Dance festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm at Rajgir in the state of Bihar, which was once the capital of Magadhan Empire. The Department of Tourism, Bihar organises this dance festival every year, which exhibits the rich culture of India and classical and folk dances is a major attraction of this festival.
About Rajgir
Rajgir was earlier known as 'Rajgriha' and was the capital of Magadhan Empire during the ancient times. This place is enclosed by seven hills and the place is charismatic and forwards a soothing atmosphere. Its association with both Lord Buddha and Lord Mahavira makes it a significant destination for both Buddhists as well as the Jains. It is the land where Buddha meditated and preached. Rajgir is also far-famed for its connection with Shishunaga kings, Bimbisara and Ajatashatru. Chronicles of history states that Ajatashatru kept his father Bimbsara in imprisonment in this place. Ajatashatru is also recognized with shifting his capital to Pataliputra, which is the modern day Patna. Buddha not only spent several years in Rajgir delivering his sermons and proselytised emperor Bimbisara at the Griddhakoota hill. The Jivekarmavan monastery was the favourite residence for Buddha. Even Bimbisara gave Venuvan Vihar to Buddha for his residence. It is said that it was at Rajgir that Jivak, a physician, treated Buddha after the latter was injured by his cousin Devdatta. The teachings of Buddha were penned down at Rajgir and it was also the venue for the first Buddhist Council. Lord Mahavira is also said to have spent fourteen years of his life at Rajgir and Nalanda, spending chaturmas at a single place in Rajgir and the rest in the places in the vicinity. It was then the capital of his favorite shishya King Shrenik. Thus, Rajgir is an extremely important religious place for Jains. Besides emblematic significance; Rajgir attracts thousands of tourists and visitors every year in the month of October, for the Rajgir Dance Festival. It is a colourful festival dedicated to dance and music, which is held by the Department of Tourism, Bihar. During this festival the whole town of Rajgir goes on board in the tunes of dance and music for three days. It presents a entire blend of instrumental music, divine songs, opera, folk dance and ballet etc. All the activities during the festival are performed by the maestros in their respective fields.
Celebration of Rajgir Dance Festival
An important and popular dance festival, Rajgir Mahotsav exhibits a profligate carnival of dance and music. Such is the power of the creative energies that the place turns blissful and absolutely idyllic during the time of the festival. This festival is a mixed bag of enchantment, wherein devotional music strikes a chord; there is also instrumental music that comes in harmony with the spirituality. In addition, opera styled music, various forms of classical dance, folk dance and ballet adds to the charm of this festival. For the true lovers of Indian classical dance and music, Rajgir Dance Festival is just the place to be. The festival constitutes of different performances by renowned singers and dancers from all over India. During the Rajgir Dance Festival, famous people perform on the stage to enthral the spectators with their talent. This festival has been brazening a spectacular presentation of the culture of India since a long time and people from all over India and as well as from other parts of the World come to enjoy this ethnical carnival in Rajgir. This dance festival provides immense scope and encourages upcoming singers and dancers, keeping the ethnic legacy of India integral. Some of the well known performers of this festival are Anand Shankar.Hema Malini, Sanyukta Panigrahi, Sonal Man Singh, Nalini-Kamalini, Shovna Narayan, Madhukar Anand, Madhumita Roy, Amita Dutta, Mukund Nayak, Swapna Sundari, Madhavi Mudgal, Leela Samson, just to name a few.
About Rajgir
Rajgir was earlier known as 'Rajgriha' and was the capital of Magadhan Empire during the ancient times. This place is enclosed by seven hills and the place is charismatic and forwards a soothing atmosphere. Its association with both Lord Buddha and Lord Mahavira makes it a significant destination for both Buddhists as well as the Jains. It is the land where Buddha meditated and preached. Rajgir is also far-famed for its connection with Shishunaga kings, Bimbisara and Ajatashatru. Chronicles of history states that Ajatashatru kept his father Bimbsara in imprisonment in this place. Ajatashatru is also recognized with shifting his capital to Pataliputra, which is the modern day Patna. Buddha not only spent several years in Rajgir delivering his sermons and proselytised emperor Bimbisara at the Griddhakoota hill. The Jivekarmavan monastery was the favourite residence for Buddha. Even Bimbisara gave Venuvan Vihar to Buddha for his residence. It is said that it was at Rajgir that Jivak, a physician, treated Buddha after the latter was injured by his cousin Devdatta. The teachings of Buddha were penned down at Rajgir and it was also the venue for the first Buddhist Council. Lord Mahavira is also said to have spent fourteen years of his life at Rajgir and Nalanda, spending chaturmas at a single place in Rajgir and the rest in the places in the vicinity. It was then the capital of his favorite shishya King Shrenik. Thus, Rajgir is an extremely important religious place for Jains. Besides emblematic significance; Rajgir attracts thousands of tourists and visitors every year in the month of October, for the Rajgir Dance Festival. It is a colourful festival dedicated to dance and music, which is held by the Department of Tourism, Bihar. During this festival the whole town of Rajgir goes on board in the tunes of dance and music for three days. It presents a entire blend of instrumental music, divine songs, opera, folk dance and ballet etc. All the activities during the festival are performed by the maestros in their respective fields.
Celebration of Rajgir Dance Festival
An important and popular dance festival, Rajgir Mahotsav exhibits a profligate carnival of dance and music. Such is the power of the creative energies that the place turns blissful and absolutely idyllic during the time of the festival. This festival is a mixed bag of enchantment, wherein devotional music strikes a chord; there is also instrumental music that comes in harmony with the spirituality. In addition, opera styled music, various forms of classical dance, folk dance and ballet adds to the charm of this festival. For the true lovers of Indian classical dance and music, Rajgir Dance Festival is just the place to be. The festival constitutes of different performances by renowned singers and dancers from all over India. During the Rajgir Dance Festival, famous people perform on the stage to enthral the spectators with their talent. This festival has been brazening a spectacular presentation of the culture of India since a long time and people from all over India and as well as from other parts of the World come to enjoy this ethnical carnival in Rajgir. This dance festival provides immense scope and encourages upcoming singers and dancers, keeping the ethnic legacy of India integral. Some of the well known performers of this festival are Anand Shankar.Hema Malini, Sanyukta Panigrahi, Sonal Man Singh, Nalini-Kamalini, Shovna Narayan, Madhukar Anand, Madhumita Roy, Amita Dutta, Mukund Nayak, Swapna Sundari, Madhavi Mudgal, Leela Samson, just to name a few.