Konark Dance & Music Festival

Padmashree Guru Gangadhar Pradhan

Guru Gangadhar Pradhan, Founder-Director of KNM is a teacher, performer choreographer, a Mardal player, an acclaimed artist of international standing, Padmashree Awardee and was the President of Orissa Sangeet Natak Akademi during the year 2006-07. He created an enabling environment by organizing dance and music festivals for flourishing of different art forms of India in this part of the world. Many of the reputed dancers in the field of Odissi dance are his disciples. He is a recipient of Senior Fellowship from the Ministry of Human Resources Development, Govt. of India. For his outstanding contribution President of India conferred on him the prestigious Central Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1998. Guru Sri Pradhan is the first person from the field of Orissan art and culture who was given the prestigious teaching assignment at the famed Cornell University, USA. In spite of his stupendous achievements he remained humble which is a true hall mark of people with substance. Guru Gangadhar Pradhan initiated Konark Dance and Music Festival where artists of national and international repute participate and perform from 19th to 21st Feb of every year to promote and propagate the vast treasure trove of our art and culture.

Vision

Ustad Amjad Ali Khan

Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, received the first, "Guru Gangadhar Pradhan Lifetime Achievement Award" on the year of 2011.

Ustad Zakir Hussain

Ustad Zakir Hussain, received , "Guru Gangadhar Pradhan Lifetime Achievement Award"

Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia

Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia , received , "Guru Gangadhar Pradhan Lifetime Achievement Award"

Dr.Vaijayantimala Bali

Dr.Vaijayantimala Bali , received , "Guru Gangadhar Pradhan Lifetime Achievement Award"

People say:

well you know , GURU GANGADHAR PRADHAN was still there ,He constantly told me about this festival that was his dream child ,every body knows about it and he was so very proud of what was happening here .He kept telling me you has not come yet ,You have to come to see what happening during my festival .I promised him every year but some how it was not possible during his lifetime, First time i came was in last year when GURU GANGADHAR PRADHAN was no longer there and I realized that it is a stupendous task ,You know doing a festival like this is not easy but there is so much good will guruje has left behind ,But i am very happy they has music and dance .This is one of the rarest festival where they do this ,Normally this does not happen ,You has either music or dance and to put them together is in a way nice but you know it is also tricky you know ,where you are going to arrange these programs everyday .What I saw last year and also what I saw this year has pleased me tremendously.

Leela Venkataraman, Dance & Music Critic.

The way they organized the place , everything was fabulous .I really enjoyed playing here.

Saheed Parvez

The KONARK NATYA MANDAP and GURU GANGADHAR PRADHAN is great ,I am very proud with the musicians .I am playing in this festival for first time .I really enjoyed .All foreigners are coming .The stage is fantastic the place of performance is a divine place.

Pandit Viku Vinayak Ram

This festival is more like a short of family ,because i meet the same people .I like the ambiance and i like the wonderful dance and music .I always feel the musicians are really the top performers ,so if you want to see the top musicians of India you come here and see in this festival.

Laleeta Venkat, nartaki.com

This is my fourth time in KONARK NATYA MANDAP and i am coming here from pune,Maharastra to perform and this is an incredible contribution of GURU GANGADHAR PRADHAN saheb who has done all this 28 years of KONARK DANCE AND MUSIC FESTIVAL and we are really very grateful to him for his work.It is an amazing ambiance and specially the listener are very good though many foreigners are also there to listen to the music but the response is amazing.We are really proud of this kind of this kind of festivals in India.

Vijay Ghate

It is indeed is a dream come true for Guru Gangadhar Pradhan. “ Konark Kanti’s” choreography is outstanding. The festival broke a feelings of “ sight for the God “. I wish the festival a great success.

Dr. Sunil Kothari (Padmashri Awardee) - New Delhi

Thanks for having at this festival and enjoyed my time here. Our entire stay here from the welcoming party of the Konark Danc & Music Festival to the visit of the Konark temple was uplifting, inspiring and deeply appreciated. Being a part of the 27th Konark Music & Dance Festival long may it florish.

Ustad Zakir Hussain/Antonnia

I heard about Konark dance & Music Festival & I wanted to see I got invitation so I came and am very happy about it about konark festival how they conduct very lively face to eyes face to ear very discipline here also very good audience they give respect to the artists.