Modhera Dance Festival



Detailed Information about Modhera Dance Festival & Its Importance


Modhera Dance Festival is celebrated by performing live dance performance for the glory and honour of Lord Sun. The dances are performed by the talented professionals in the Sun temple at Modhera in Mehsana district. This festival is one of the marked festivals by the Tourism Corporation of Gujarat. It is celebrated every year in the month of January for three days. It provides a platform for the Indian classical dance and folk dance of Gujarat during this festival.

The Sun temple in Modhera is a beautiful temple, the walls of the temple is carved with magnificent sculptures in which the Lord Sun is depicted prominently. Sun temple of Gujarat is considered to be one f the best Specimens of Indian art and architecture of the gone era, in spite the condition of temple is ruined due to aging. The Sun temple is constructed in such a manner that the first ray of sun drops from the sky and it lilts the whole sanctum of the temple. This depicts the serenity of this temple and uniqueness of the temple as Lord Surya is known as the ultimate power for the earth. This uniqueness acts as a backdrop for the cultural festival organised in the Modhera festival the Indian traditional dance.

The Sun temple is known for its rich history and culture, the dances narrates the legend of this temple by their performance. This magnificent temple was built during the rule of the Solanki King Bhimdev 1. It was built to honour the Lord Sun. Due to its beauty and significance this temple has been chosen for this festival to be celebrated. It helps to promote the different dance forms of Gujarat as many tourists come from worldwide to attend this festival. Each dance forms have its own language and style to make the charm and uniqueness of the dances this festival is organised, this is attempt to keep the culture of India alive in this modernisation.

Dance has always been the real source of spirituality and dedication in Indian culture, dance marks the vital component in the process of expressing the views and ideas with actual feel in it. In Hindu Culture dance has always played a significant role, Lord Shiva (the destroyer of the universe) expresses his anger by the famous Tandava dance to express his utmost anger and power to the world. According to the mythology in is said that when Lord shiva performs his Tandava the earth shakes with his power and fear.

Some famous dances performed in this festival are Vaijanti (a Kuchipuddi dance), Kathak dance and Bharatnatyam dance. This festival is also known as Uttered Mahotsav. The glory of this festival is enhanced by the visiting of renowned people from the field of dance and music. This festival is attempted to promote festival in larger scale.