Celebrating 25 Years of LalitArpan Festival 2026 with “Tradition, Transition & Transmission”

New Delhi: The Annual LalitArpan Festival, curated by Kathak maestro Dr. Shovana Narayan, marked its landmark 25th anniversary this year, celebrating a quarter-century of artistic excellence, tradition and the living legacy of Indian classical dance. Held on 8 and 9 October 2026 at Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, the festival was centred on the reminiscent theme “Tradition, Transition & Transmission”—reflecting the enduring values of artistic heritage, the transition of individuals and traditions across generations, and the transmission of embodied knowledge and wisdom from Guru to disciple keeping alive the Guru-Shishya Parampara.

Eminent guests present in the evening were Dr. Jyotsna Suri, Prof K.G. Suresh, Ambassador Pavan K Varma, Sangeeta Saxena, Preeti Agarwal, Naina Balsavar amongst others.

The festival opened with a special felicitation ceremony paying homage to 25 veteran dancer-gurus of Delhi including Dr. Sonal Mansingh, Dr. Raja Reddy, Dr. Radha Reddy, Kaushalya Reddy, Vidushi Sharon Lowen, Pt. Krishna Mohan Maharaj, Pt. Jaikishan Maharaj, Vidushi Nalini Asthana, Vidushi Kamalini Asthana, Vidushi Ranjana Gauhar, Vidushi Geeta Chandran, Vidushi Swapnasundari and Vidushi Prathibha Prahlad to name a few, honouring their outstanding and sustained contribution to the field of Indian classical dance, acknowledging the invaluable role they have played in nurturing and preserving the dance traditions of India.

“Twenty-five years of Lalitarpan carry the warmth of shared memories, the devotion of artists and the love of audiences. This year’s presentations celebrate Kathak’s grace, rhythmic vitality and emotional depth. Honouring 25 of Delhi’s seniormost dancer-gurus makes this Silver Jubilee especially meaningful—a heartfelt expression of gratitude to those whose lifelong dedication has nurtured generations of artists. For me, it is a celebration of all we have inherited and the dreams we must continue to nurture.”

— Padmashri Guru Shovana Narayan

The opening day featured a visually compelling rendition of ‘Yudhishthir & Draupadi’, based on Pavan K. Varma’s acclaimed epic poem, presented by Kathak maestro Guru Shovana Narayan and Sunit Tandon. The compelling, nuanced and emotionally charged performances of Guru Shovana Narayan and Sunit Tandon brought alive the profound psychological conflicts, moral dilemmas and intense human emotions of Yudhishthir and Draupadi, creating an atmosphere charged with dramatic intensity, poignant sensitivity and riveting theatrical brilliance. Their extraordinary interpretative depth and captivating stage presence held the audience spellbound, leaving a lasting and deeply resonant impression.

On the  second day, the festival continued with ‘Sumang: The Silent Pillars’, a contemporary exploration of companionship, self-respect and the many dimensions of human values, created and performed by Suparna Singh and Mahima Satsangi. Expressed through the vocabulary of Kathak, the production examined the quiet yet powerful forces that shape human relationships and individual identity.

The festival concluded with ‘Noor’, an acclaimed contemporary Kathak production by Sanjukta Sinha, recipient of the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar. The production delved into the inner search for light, the duality of existence, and the eternal interplay between shadow and illumination, bringing the two-day celebration to a contemplative and evocative close.