By Sukant Deepak

New Delhi, Feb 24 (IANSlife): Classical dancer and popular South Indian actress, Shobana Chandrakumar Pillai, better known mononymously as Shobana enthralled the audience with her solo Bharatanatyam performance during third evening of the 47th edition of the Khajuraho Dance Festival yesterday. Innovative and carrying the traditional values in Vasistha style, she started her performance with a traditional composition composed in the raga Mallhari.

Odissi dancer Suprabha Mishra first presented a traditional folk tale ‘Rani Ki Bawdi' and then brought alive the various forms of Vishnu described in Vishnu Puran. The final performance of the third evening ended with noted Bharatanatyam dancer Ananda Shankar Jayant and group who presented Navarasa.

The first day witnessed performances by disciples of Jatin Gosvami and Odissi dancer Meera Das and her group. On the second day, among others, Lata Munshi performed Keerthanam.

The 47th edition of Khajuraho Dance Festival was inaugurated by Vijay Laxmi Sadho, Culture Minister, Madhya Pradesh here on Tuesday. This seven-day festival will feature Kathak, Odissi, Bharatanatyam, Manipuri, Kuchipudi and Satriya performances.

During the inaugural ceremony, the Madhya Pradesh Government felicitated Kathak dancer Uma Sharma and acclaimed Sattriya dancer, Jatin Goswami with the Kalidasa Samman.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Sadho said, "We are proud to honour these artists. Madhya Pradesh has a diversified culture and everyone must contribute to promote our cultural heritage." She also announced that the MP Culture Ministry will build an amphitheatre in Khajuraho to promote performing arts.

Organised by the Ustad Allauddin Khan Sangeet Evam Kala Academy, Department of Culture- Madhya Pradesh, the Khajuraho Dance Festival is a week-long festival of Indian classical dance held annually against the spectacular backdrop of the magnificent Khajuraho temples in Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh.