40th Khajurao Dance Festival promoting India's cultural and traditional ethos

The world-renowned Dance Festival began in Khajuraho with an aim to promote cultural and traditional dances of the country.

The 40th annual festival kicked off on Thursday and would conclude on February 26.

Dancers performed several old and traditional Indian dance forms like Bharatanatyam and Odissi, attempting to keep the dances alive as a part of our heritage.

The dancers described their experience of performing in Khajuraho, a place famous for its temples with exquisite sex sculptures and paintings, a holy one.

"Khajuraho is special because one, it is a historical place. Also, according to Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) it is very old. And this is a temple, earlier dances used to be performed only in temples. And now when we perform on the land of temples, we have the same religious feelings to serve. We also get a feeling of performing like devdasis (a girl dedicated to service and worship of a deity)," said a Bharatanatyam dancer, Geeta Chandran.

Many classical artists were honoured at the festival and young dancers got a platform to showcase their talent.

The event saw the presence of various provincial leaders including State Culture and Tourism Minister, Surendra Patwa. Many tourists from other countries also made it to the festival to view and participate in it.

"I felt really nice to see the way it brings out the spiritual traditions," said a foreign tourist, Julia.

The week-long event will see classical dancers performing various dance styles including Kuchipudi, Kathak and Manipuri.