Ellora-Ajanta International Festival makes a comeback after 7 years

It’s been seven years since the last Ellora-Ajanta International Festival! Come February 25-27, 2023, the historic Soneri Mahal, a part of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University premises, will host the Ellora-Ajanta International Festival. It’s a great time to plan a trip to Aurangabad district.


Also read: Reasons why you need to attend the ongoing Surajkund Mela in Faridabad


The Ellora-Ajanta International Festival was last held in 2016. And after seven years, the district authorities have decided to bring back the festival with pomp and show.


Before the main cultural extravaganza, a pre-festival event called ‘Purvarang’ will also take place on February 12 at the Sant Eknath Rang Mandir in Osmanpura, Aurangabad. The pre-festival event will have Marathi musical performances by popular artists as its main attraction. Apart from the Marathi musical extravaganza, there will also be Hindi and Sufi musical performances by notable artists.


This year, at the main three-day Ellora-Ajanta International Festival at Soneri Mahal, several notable local, national and international artists will showcase their amazing talents. If you are into traditional folk music, you must attend this festival.



The Ellora-Ajanta International Festival is once again revived to promote tourism in Aurangabad district. The festival was a massive hit when it was first launched in 1985! Back then, the festival’s venue was the famous UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ellora caves, and Kailasa Temple to be more precise.


This year, the venue has changed but the vibe promises to remain the same. Also, this year’s impressive artist lineup includes Ustad Rashid Khan, Ustad Shujaat Khan, Mahesh Kale, Ravi Chari, Shivmani, Vijay Ghate, Sangeeta Mazumdar and Shankar Mahadevan to name a few. With the lineup as impressive as this, one can imagine the festival to be a massive hit once again.


Ellora-Ajanta International Festival

What: Ellora-Ajanta International Festival
When: February 25-27, 2023
Where: Soneri Mahal, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad