From Sattriya to Kathakali, Classical Dance Traditions Mesmerise Audience in Pune

Adi Kala Sattra Festival in Pune celebrates India’s classical dance heritage as Sattriya, Chhau, Kathakali and Kathak captivate audiences with rhythm, storytelling and tradition.

December 30, 2025 | Pune – Paying a rich tribute to India’s diverse cultural heritage, a captivating confluence of classical dance forms unfolded in Pune, leaving audiences mesmerised by rhythmic elegance, expressive storytelling and vibrant musical traditions. The Adi Kala Sattra Festival, held to mark the 10th foundation day of the Adi School of Dance, brought together Sattriya, Chhau, Kathakali and Kathak on a single मंच, offering a panoramic glimpse into India’s timeless artistic legacy.

Curated by Dr Devika Borthakur, founder of the Adi School of Dance and a renowned exponent of the Sattriya dance form, the festival was hosted at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Auditorium. The performances were thoughtfully woven into a seamless narrative that highlighted the unique identity of each classical form while celebrating their shared roots in mythology, devotion and storytelling.

The festival was formally inaugurated by eminent Bharatanatyam dancer and guru Sucheta Bhide-Chapekar and Pune Municipal Corporation Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram. Their presence underscored the growing recognition of classical dance as an essential pillar of India’s cultural and educational ecosystem.

At the heart of the evening was Sattriya, one of India’s eight recognised classical dance forms originating from Assam. Rooted in the Vaishnavite monasteries known as sattras, established by saint-reformer Srimanta Sankardeva, Sattriya is celebrated for its lyrical grace, spiritual depth and expressive abhinaya. Dr Borthakur, along with her students, presented Sattriya compositions that reflected devotion, narrative clarity and disciplined aesthetics.

The festival also showcased the vibrant energy of Chhau, the dramatic intensity of Kathakali and the rhythmic finesse of Kathak. Together, these forms portrayed mythological episodes such as Usha-Anirudh, Bhakta Prahlad and Andh Muni, each style bringing its own movement vocabulary, costume tradition and storytelling technique to the stage. Kathakali was performed by noted artist Renjish Nair, Kathak by Rupa Rani Das-Bora, while Chhau was presented by Akram Shaik and Samhita Chaudhuri along with their students.

Speaking at the event, Sucheta Bhide-Chapekar emphasised the importance of preserving and promoting indigenous nrutya traditions. She observed that interest in Indian classical dance is steadily growing, with audiences increasing gradually yet consistently, signalling a promising future for traditional performing arts.

PMC Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram highlighted dance as an intrinsic part of Indian identity and a powerful medium of expression. He noted that dance reflects India’s vast cultural diversity and communicates emotions, values and stories beyond words. He also pointed out the growing need for dedicated dance institutions in Pune, stating that the city, known as the Oxford of the East and home to a large international student population, has the potential to emerge as a global hub for dance education.

Krishna Jadumani, a distinguished Sattriya exponent from Uttar Kamalabari Sattra in Majuli, Assam, praised Dr Borthakur’s decade-long efforts in promoting Sattriya in Pune. He remarked that her work has helped the form gain recognition on par with Bharatanatyam and Kathak, adding that the combined presentation of Sattriya, Kathakali and Chhau in Bhakta Prahlad was particularly outstanding.

Dr Borthakur stated that her objective through the festival was to weave India’s diverse dance forms into a storytelling format, the very foundation of Sattriya, enabling audiences to connect emotionally and culturally. The festival concluded with a moving dance tribute to Assamese singing sensation Zubeen Garg, who passed away a few months ago in a tragic drowning incident in Singapore, leaving the audience with a sense of reverence and reflection.

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