New Delhi, January 2025: Dastaan-e-Kathak: The Story of a Storyteller returns for its much-awaited third edition on 4th February 2025 at the historic Travancore Palace, New Delhi. This year, the festival is themed The Dance of Silence, offering a transformative experience that delves into the interplay between words, sound, and silence through the lens of Indian classical arts.
Founded as a tribute to celebrate the legendary Pt. Birju Maharaj, Dastaan-e-Kathak continues his legacy through this festival of presenting Kathak and other classical art forms in novel ways, interestingly engaging contemporary audiences. The first launch of the festival happened in 2023 and then grew to be one of the more prominent cultural events, widely acknowledged for blending the traditional style of storytelling with new interpretations.
The venue for this year's edition is the historic and elegant Travancore Palace. Its regal charm and architectural splendor are a fitting backdrop for the event's diverse performances, creating an ambiance that seamlessly integrates heritage and artistry.
Dastaan-e-Kathak in the year 2025 is bound to redefine how Indian classical arts are experienced. This year, the theme will be The Dance of Silence-when silence is not an absence of sound but a most eloquent medium of expression. A spectacular series of performances are slated for this event, which will include the following:
· Sound Meditation Practices: It is an immersion session highlighting the therapeutic and spiritual dimensions of silence.
· Maestros and Emerging Talent: A select list of artists who will perform original works inspired by the theme of the festival, blending classical techniques with contemporary perspectives.
· The Evolution of Indian Dance Costumes: A visually striking presentation tracing the evolution of dance costumes, celebrating the confluence of aesthetics, functionality, and storytelling in classical dance forms.
Through these diverse offerings, the festival seeks to engage the audience in a dialogue that transcends words, encouraging them to experience the profound beauty of silence as an artistic and philosophical concept.
Since its inception, Dastaan-e-Kathak has been a beacon of cultural excellence. The first 2023 edition featured live performances by iconic artists such as Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, Pt. Sajan Mishra, and filmmaker Muzaffar Ali. It was held across three prominent venues—Sunder Nursery, Lodi Art District, and The Claridges Hotel—and saw over 1,000 guests, including UNESCO representatives, cultural ambassadors, and art enthusiasts.
In 2024, the festival broke new ground with a purely digital edition, a first-of-its-kind initiative that leveraged platforms like Instagram and YouTube. The digital format featured 90-second conceptual performances by 13 artists, attracting a diverse global audience and further cementing the festival’s reputation for innovation and inclusivity.
Curated by Shivani Varma, a renowned Kathak dancer and disciple of Pt. Birju Maharaj's and Guru Shovana Narayan. Dastaan-e-Kathak reflects deep commitment to the preservation and promotion of India's cultural heritage. Ms. Varma is a member of the Sahitya Kala Parishad, the cultural wing of the Delhi Government, and an empaneled artist with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. Her glorious career includes collaborations with luminaries like AR Rahman and performances at events such as the Lucknow Literature Festival and FICCI YFLO.
Ms. Varma's vision for the festival goes beyond mere performances; she wants to create a platform that bridges the gap between traditional and contemporary art forms, inspiring new generations to explore the richness of Indian classical arts. "Dastaan-e-Kathak is not just a festival—it's a movement that celebrates the storyteller within everyone and everything, revealing the narratives that shape our lives and connect us to the world around us," she says.
The festival has been supported by many big organizations, including the Ministry of Culture, UNESCO India, Aditya Birla Group, The Claridges Hotel, Good Earth Foundation and others. All these collaborations have played a crucial role in shaping the success of the festival, making it reach wider audiences and creating a platform for meaningful cultural exchange.
The 2025 edition aims to continue this legacy by inviting arts patrons, culture enthusiasts, and the general public to participate in a unique celebration that breaks with the ordinary. Dastaan-e-Kathak, with its carefully curated program, strives to initiate discussions around the role of classical arts in modern society - their timelessness and transformative capacity.
Shivani Varma said “Every time I dance, it is a tribute to my Gurus. I wish to share what I learnt from him not only in dance but also what his philosophy of living was. Deeply impacted by the life and now sadly his passing, I wish to do something in his memory that is meaningful and brings about an impact to the culture that he upheld and shared so generously with the world. The Kathak Day Trust has been created by me to strive to preserve these lessons and further the cause of the Indian cultural heritage he espoused
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