Delhi witnessed a vibrant celebration of India’s rich cultural legacy with a special presentation of Srimanta Sankaradeva’s classical dance drama Parijat Haran at the Delhi Kala Festival 2026. Held at the National School of Drama (NSD), the national-level festival celebrated India’s classical performing arts and living cultural traditions, with over 400 people attending the performance.
Delhi Kala Festival that runs till Aug 31 is being organised by Nishreyas and Vagambhrini, two leading bodies that are engaged in the field of promotion of art and culture, in association with Delhi Tourism, Government of NCT of Delhi. The festival places a special emphasis on the dance forms – Sattriya, Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, Odissi, Kathak, Chhau and Manipuri, bringing the cultural heritage of Bharat to wider audiences.
Through Parijat Haran, Kala-Tarangini introduced Delhi audiences to the philosophical depth, devotional roots and continuing vitality of Sattriya, while highlighting the extraordinary synthesis of literature, music, theatre and dance within Assam’s cultural traditions.
Directed by Sumanya Kashyap and Dr. Sukanya Baruah, Parijat Haran portrayed Krishna’s divine leela through the contrasting emotions of Rukmini and Satyabhama. Through music, dance, drama, and expressive storytelling, Parijat Haran portrayed love, jealousy, pride, devotion and surrender while celebrating the spiritual and the artistic legacy of Srimanta Sankaradeva and the classical tradition of Assam’s Sattriya and Ankiya Nat tradition.
Enthralled with the performance, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal Ji, Hon’ble Union Cabinet Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, said, “It is heartening to see that this year’s festival has chosen to celebrate the different classical dance forms of the country with a special focus on Sattriya of Assam. This festival has gone beyond presenting classical arts merely as performances. We must see more such initiatives that preserve and highlight the legacy of Bharat.”
Sattriya, one of India’s eight recognised classical dance traditions, has evolved over nearly five centuries and represents the deep cultural and spiritual heritage of Assam. Rooted in the Vaishnavite movement associated with Srimanta Sankaradeva and Madhavadeva, the tradition is distinguished by its synthesis of artistic expression, devotion, philosophy and community practice.
Speaking about the festival, Prof. Rajnish Kumar Mishra, Chairman, Organising Committee, Kala-Tarangini said, “Kala-Tarangini: The Delhi Kala Festival 2026 supported by Delhi Tourism is an expression of India’s rich and diverse cultural heritage, illustrating both the lineage and continuity of our living cultural traditions. Today, we witnessed a rich tradition of Assam that celebrates Bhagvata Purana and the Harivamsa.”
Shri Bharat Gupt Ji, Vice-Chairman of the NSD Society, said, “I am thrilled to be a part of the famous dance drama Parijat Haran at Kala-Tarangini. We need more of such festivals that not only highlight but also preserve the vibrant legacy of our country’s history and tradition.”
Commenting on the event, Shri Chittaranjan Tripathy, Director, National School of Drama, said, “We are extremely proud to host Kala Tarangini that brings together various cultural traditions and their artistic manifestations, presenting the diversity of Indian performing arts on a common platform.”
Kala-Tarangini will also extend its canvas to different regions of India, showcasing their distinctive cultural and aesthetic expressions and celebrating the diversity, continuity and artistic richness of Bharat.
