Konark Dance & Music Festival

For a good reason

Any discussion on poverty eradication in India can never be fruitful without a study on the most deprived sections of the society. Despite sixty five years of independence and despite constitutional safeguards, these children continue to live in abject poverty and most of the problems faced by the children are because of their low literacy rate. It has also been accepted that education holds key to Empowerment and Sustainable Development. When the entire nation is trying to find a way to prepare a level playing field for the Village, a frail looking young man Guru Gangadhar Pradhan with his firm conviction that education can get Village out from poverty started a small Gurukul which now has turned into Konark Natya Mandap the largest residential Gurukul for tribal children where they are provided with food, accommodation, healthcare, dance, music & education from KG to PG absolutely free.

Economists, planners and welfare governments, all over the world have been busy finding out solution to the problem of poverty which has remained the main stumbling block to the progress of mankind. There have been numerous meetings, conferences and summits both at macro and micro levels to address the issue of poverty eradication and alleviation. UN General Assembly even declared the period from 1997 to 2006 as the first UN decade for eradication of poverty. Education & culture is often described as a tool to eradicate poverty. Since the link between education and poverty is neither a linear nor a simple cause and effect relationship, it can be concerned that lack of education is perhaps the most important reason for poverty. It has been an accepted fact that poverty reduction or eradication through education can never be achieved without the right mix of policies and strategies guided by a strong commitment to achieve that.

Contribute inside India
Name : Konark Natya Mandap
A/C No : 1194101007859
Name : Canara Bank
Branch : Konark, 752111
IFS Code : CNRB0001194

FCRA Account donations from outside India
Name : Konark Natya Mandap
A/C No : 10872161416
Name : State Bank Of India
Branch : Bhubaneswar Main Branch, 751009
IFS Code : SBIN0000041
For any feedback on our fundraising efforts please contact info@konarkfestival.com

Ustad Amjad Ali Khan

Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, received the first, "Guru Gangadhar Pradhan Lifetime Achievement Award" on the year of 2011.

Ustad Zakir Hussain

Ustad Zakir Hussain, received , "Guru Gangadhar Pradhan Lifetime Achievement Award"

Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia

Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia , received , "Guru Gangadhar Pradhan Lifetime Achievement Award"

Dr.Vaijayantimala Bali

Dr.Vaijayantimala Bali , received , "Guru Gangadhar Pradhan Lifetime Achievement Award"

People say:

well you know , GURU GANGADHAR PRADHAN was still there ,He constantly told me about this festival that was his dream child ,every body knows about it and he was so very proud of what was happening here .He kept telling me you has not come yet ,You have to come to see what happening during my festival .I promised him every year but some how it was not possible during his lifetime, First time i came was in last year when GURU GANGADHAR PRADHAN was no longer there and I realized that it is a stupendous task ,You know doing a festival like this is not easy but there is so much good will guruje has left behind ,But i am very happy they has music and dance .This is one of the rarest festival where they do this ,Normally this does not happen ,You has either music or dance and to put them together is in a way nice but you know it is also tricky you know ,where you are going to arrange these programs everyday .What I saw last year and also what I saw this year has pleased me tremendously.

Leela Venkataraman, Dance & Music Critic.

The way they organized the place , everything was fabulous .I really enjoyed playing here.

Saheed Parvez

The KONARK NATYA MANDAP and GURU GANGADHAR PRADHAN is great ,I am very proud with the musicians .I am playing in this festival for first time .I really enjoyed .All foreigners are coming .The stage is fantastic the place of performance is a divine place.

Pandit Viku Vinayak Ram

This festival is more like a short of family ,because i meet the same people .I like the ambiance and i like the wonderful dance and music .I always feel the musicians are really the top performers ,so if you want to see the top musicians of India you come here and see in this festival.

Laleeta Venkat, nartaki.com

This is my fourth time in KONARK NATYA MANDAP and i am coming here from pune,Maharastra to perform and this is an incredible contribution of GURU GANGADHAR PRADHAN saheb who has done all this 28 years of KONARK DANCE AND MUSIC FESTIVAL and we are really very grateful to him for his work.It is an amazing ambiance and specially the listener are very good though many foreigners are also there to listen to the music but the response is amazing.We are really proud of this kind of this kind of festivals in India.

Vijay Ghate

It is indeed is a dream come true for Guru Gangadhar Pradhan. “ Konark Kanti’s” choreography is outstanding. The festival broke a feelings of “ sight for the God “. I wish the festival a great success.

Dr. Sunil Kothari (Padmashri Awardee) - New Delhi

Thanks for having at this festival and enjoyed my time here. Our entire stay here from the welcoming party of the Konark Danc & Music Festival to the visit of the Konark temple was uplifting, inspiring and deeply appreciated. Being a part of the 27th Konark Music & Dance Festival long may it florish.

Ustad Zakir Hussain/Antonnia

I heard about Konark dance & Music Festival & I wanted to see I got invitation so I came and am very happy about it about konark festival how they conduct very lively face to eyes face to ear very discipline here also very good audience they give respect to the artists.