Vasantotsava 2026 brings three days of dance, music and legacy to Delhi

Kalashram, founded by Pt Birju Maharaj, organised the 28th edition of Vasantotsava, its annual three-day festival of dance and music, from February 2 to 4, 2026, at Kamani Auditorium, Delhi. Envisioned by Pt Birju Maharaj, the festival has consistently aimed to celebrate and disseminate the rich heritage of Indian classical dance and music through a thoughtfully curated lineup of leading performers from across India and abroad.

The festival was inaugurated by Dr Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary and Executive and Academic Head of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, New Delhi. This year, the Pt Birju Maharaj Samman 2026 was conferred upon Rajan Misra and Sajan Misra. The award was presented to Sajan Misra during the Samman Samaroh on the opening day, where he also shared fond memories of his long and enduring association with Birju Maharaj, spanning several decades.

This edition of Vasantotsava also paid homage to four legends—Ravi Shankar, Kumudini Lakhia, Girija Devi, and Rajan Misra and Sajan Misra—who had been honoured at earlier editions of the festival. Performances by their senior disciples included Shubhendra Rao, Prabhakar and Divakar Kashyap, Sunanda Sharma, and the Kadam troupe from Ahmedabad.

The festival featured several group performances by ensembles led by Shovana Narayan, Jai Kishan Maharaj, Krishan Mohan Mishra, Rajendra Gangani, Vaswati Misra, Malti Shyam, Jayashree Acharya, Paramita Maitra, Luna Poddar, Vidha Lal, and Shinjini Kulkarni, among others. Solo and duet performances by artists such as Piyush Chauhan, Ragini and Yashaswini Maharaj, Tribhuwan Maharaj, Canada-based Tanveer Alam, and UK-based Tulani Kayani Skeef added to the diversity of the presentations.

Over 100 dancers participated in the three-day celebration, with the auditorium packed each evening as Delhi’s connoisseurs braved the winter chill. The festival concluded with a memorable trio presentation titled VYOM, featuring Saswati Sen, Mamta Maharaj, and Deepak Maharaj. Choreographed by Madhavi Mudgal, the finale also included over ten young dancers and received a prolonged standing ovation from the packed Kamani Auditorium.

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