Press Release                                                                                      For Immediate Release

KALASHRAM’S SADHNA FESTIVAL 2026 TO RUN FROM 30 OCT TO 3 NOV IN NEW DELHI

5-day festival to feature Kathak workshops and allied arts; Pt. Birju Maharaj Yuva Puraskar competition scheduled for 2 November

New Delhi, 30 October 2026: Kalashram will host Sadhna Festival 2026 from 30 October to 3 November at Kalashram, Gulmohar Park, New Delhi. The five day festival will bring together students, dancers, teachers and practitioners for an intensive programme of Kathak training and allied activities.

A key highlight of the festival, the Pt. Birju Maharaj Yuva Puraskar 2026, will take place on 2 November from 5:30 pm onwards at Triveni Auditorium, Mandi House, New Delhi. The competition received more than 190 applications. Following a rigorous selection process, 14 young dancers have been shortlisted:

Abhipsa Nandi, Anjali Gusain, Dakshita Bhargava, Gracy Chaudhuri, Harshita Sharma, Himanshi Gogini, Juhi Krishnamurthy, Mayank Kumar Patwa, Mitali Kale, Sakshi Vijay Gite, Santushti Rai, Suhana Nagar, Vanshika Thakkar and Vasundhara Sharma.

FESTIVAL DETAILS

•          Dates: 30 October to 3 November 2026

•          Workshop venue: Kalashram, Gulmohar Park, New Delhi

•          Pt. Birju Maharaj Yuva Puraskar 2026: 2nd & 3rd November, from 5:30 pm onwards, at Triveni Auditorium, Mandi House, New Delhi

•          Contact: 9810114843 / 9810836376 / 7980725859

•          Instagram: @kalashram_ptbirjumaharajji

“Kalashram has been dedicated to bringing awareness about art, culture and heritage especially amongst youth. Every year we promote very promising young dancers to perform as part of the Sadhna Festival” – Vidushi Saswati Sen, Kalashram

A FESTIVAL CENTRED ON PRACTICE AND LEARNING

Pt. Birju Maharaj Ji always believed in creating awareness about the depth of our rich heritage and traditions. Kalashram has been continuing this legacy through its various festivals. The Sadhna Festival stands as the most important of these in its effort to nurture younger artists.

The 2026 programme will include intensive Kathak sessions for junior, intermediate and senior learners, alongside yoga, vocal music, tabla, film screenings, reading, theory sessions, quizzes and creative activities such as painting. Sessions on Kathak Sahitya and related subjects will introduce participants to the literary and intellectual foundations of the form.

The festival will conclude on 3 November with the Sadhna Festival programme and awards.

“Every year we also have a new dance form introduced to the students. This year we have Dr. Bhabananda Barbayanthe , globally acclaimed exponent, teacher, choreographer, and research scholar of Sattriya, the classical dance-drama and music tradition of Assam”  - Vidushi Saswati Sen 

CARRYING FORWARD PT. BIRJU MAHARAJ’S LEGACY

Founded by Padma Vibhushan Pt. Birju Maharaj Ji, Kalashram is dedicated to the teaching and propagation of Kathak and associated art forms. For Maharaj Ji, Kathak was a living and evolving language shaped by music, rhythm, poetry, storytelling and human experience. The Sadhna Festival reflects this expansive understanding of artistic learning, bringing practical training together with curiosity, creative expression and engagement with allied art forms.

The programme encourages learning through observation, practice, exchange and reflection. Younger participants can build a relationship with the tradition, while experienced practitioners can revisit and deepen their understanding of the craft. Rooted in the guru shishya parampara, Kalashram values the exchange of knowledge across generations and the exploration of allied art forms. For the institution, carrying forward Pt. Birju Maharaj Ji’s legacy means not only preserving an artistic inheritance, but also nurturing the sensitivity, imagination and intellectual curiosity that help keep Kathak a living tradition. The Pt. Birju Maharaj Yuva Puraskar forms part of this commitment by recognising emerging practitioners and giving them a platform to share their work.

PROGENY: THE LIVING LEGACY OF A GURU

Progeny celebrates the continuity of a tradition nurtured through generations of learning, practice and mentorship at Kalashram. Featuring performances by the third generation of dancers trained at the institution, the presentation reflects how Pt. Birju Maharaj Ji’s artistic legacy continues to live and evolve through his students and their disciples. It is a tribute to the guru-shishya parampara, where knowledge is passed on not merely as technique, but as an inheritance of artistry, discipline and imagination—keeping Kathak alive for generations to come.

ABOUT KALASHRAM

Kalashram is the institution founded by Padma Vibhushan Pt. Birju Maharaj Ji, dedicated to the teaching and propagation of Kathak and associated art forms. Rooted in the guru shishya parampara, Kalashram works to preserve and promote India’s artistic heritage while nurturing future generations of artists.

Media enquiries: Kalashram, Gulmohar Park, New Delhi | 9810114843 / 9810836376