The LalitArpan Festival, the brainchild of Kathak maestro Padmashri Guru Shovana Narayan, Dr. Jyotsna Suri, and the late Ustad Shafaat Ahmed Khan, one of the most eminent tabla players, was envisaged in 2002. It sowed the seeds to provide a platform to young artistes as well as to foster confidence and make a room in the realm of performing arts by making them participate along with reputed senior artistes, which we have strived to do to the best of their ability. Alongside, we envisioned to present the rasikas, various dimensions of the rich tapestry of classical performing arts through solo and group presentations, dance dramas and ensembles, and so on, to the aficionados. Organized by the dance institution Asavari and its volunteers, this festival has, till date, presented over 100 torchbearers of Indian classical performing arts.
Every year, the festival comes up with new themes. This year, the Lalit Arpan Festival 2024 exhibited a grand spectacle of performances pulsating with emotions and lively rhythms. The eminent guests who graced the event included Former Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture of India Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi, Indian Artist Shruti Gupta Chandra, Artist Naresh Kapuria, Artist Kavita Dixit, Designer Leena Singh, Abha Dalmia, Neelam Pratap Rudy, Bharatnatyam Dancer Rama Vaidyanathan, Former Austrian Ambassador Dr. Herbert Traxl, Mr. Suneet Tandon, Writer Prayag Shukla, & Ranjana Narayan. Through solo and trio creative presentations, renowned artists and torchbearers of their respective traditions put their minds and souls to the concept to deliver an unforgettable performance on stage:
October 14, 2024:
“Stree Spandan: Why I did what I did” by Shovana Narayan (Kathak), Gopika Varma (Mohiniyattam), and Sharon Lowen (Odissi)
“Stree Spandan,” a powerful abhinaya-based production that explores the emotional upheavals of three principled Mahabharata women characters, Kunti, Draupadi, and Gandhari, portrayed by Shovana Narayan, Gopika Varma, and Sharon Lowen, respectively. “On seeing the dead bodies of their loved ones on the battlefield, each one justifies their actions to themselves…WOULD they have acted differently? Were they winners or losers? Ultimately, the abhinaya reflects unchanging experiences and circumstances surrounding women through the ages and their emotions and emotional responses!”
October 15, 2024:
“Sapaad Pancha”: An Asavari Group Presentation by Pallavi Lohani, Komal Biswal, Suparna Singh, Mahima Satsangi, Anil Kumar, Ashish Kathak, Vishal Chouhan, and Mayank Gangani
Kathak recital by Praveen Parihar
Bharatanatyam recital by Rama Vaidyanathan
The visual extravaganza witnessed the display of graceful facial expressions, exquisite hand gestures, and energetic rhythmic patterns!