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Date: 4th & 5th February 2007
Venue: Dhauli
When people celebrate their heritages
and ways of life, the spirit of revelry
crosses languages, continents and
cultures. And the Kalinga Mahotsav at
Dhauli, a festival of Martial Dances, is
celebrated very much in that spirit.
For the people of Orissa Dhauli hill at
the outskirts of Bhubaneswar is more a
living experience than a memory. Twenty
three hundred years ago, their fore
fathers fought one of the fiercest
battles in human history against Emperor
Ashok. They suffered loss of a hundred
thousand men, lost the war, but gained
immortality, because they metamorphosed
a warring monarch into an apostle of
non-violence and peace. The festival is
a fitting tribute to the victory of
Peace over War where renowned dancers of
India perform harmonising the vigour of
martial art with sublime dance forms.
The Martial dancers interpret incredible
postures of aggression, self-defence and
escape in graceful dance-forms with
their swords, spears and shields. They
thrill audiences with their rhythm and
precision of movement.
Kalinga Mahotsav, a fabulous feast of
dizzying dancing and dynamic stage
presentations, is held at the foot-hill
of the famous Peace Pagoda.
The Kalinga Mahotsav, showcases the
vibrant traditions of martial arts of
India through a colourful display of
dances and music. This unique festival
takes place every year on the 4th and
5th of February in front of the Dhauli
stupa, the Japanese Buddhist Temple
situated on a hill at the outskirts of
modern Bhubaneswar. This is the place
where Emperor Ashok is believed to have
fought the last battle of the great
Kalinga war before surrendering the
sword and embracing Buddhism.
The calm and solemn statue of Buddha
overlooking the entire stage from the
top of the stupa and the tranquil
expanse of the countryside populated by
paddy fields and cashew plantations
provides the peaceful background to the
outburst of movements and sounds which
accompany the performance of the martial
artists. The aim of the organisers is to
harmonise the vigour of martial
tradition with the sublimity of peace
through the art of dance.
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