Indian classical dance has travelled a long way through India’s cultural history. Its traditions found expression in temples, devotional practices and royal courts, while texts such as the Natya Shastra gave the performing arts a rich vocabulary of movement, expression, music and storytelling. Over centuries, forms such as Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Odissi and Kuchipudi developed their own identities while remaining part of India’s larger cultural heritage.
Kathak, in particular, grew through the tradition of Kathakars, storytellers who used movement, gesture and expression to narrate stories. Over different periods of Indian history, the form developed a rich vocabulary of footwork, spins, expression and storytelling, eventually becoming one of India’s major classical dance traditions.
The relevance of such traditions across the years depends greatly on the teachers, students and institutions that keep learning and teaching active. Lele’s Kalanand Nritya Sanstha has been part of that process for 34 years.
Founded by Guru Bhavana Lele, Kalanand began with two and gradually grew into institutions in Mumbai and Pune, where many have learnt Kathak. Guru Bhavana Lele trained within the Lucknow Gharana tradition and the lineage associated with Pandit Birju Maharaj, which formed an important part of her artistic training. Her daughter, Pallavi Lele, trained under Guru Bhavana Lele and is now teaching at Kalanand, extending the institution’s teaching tradition across generations.
Alongside its regular teaching, the institute has created platforms where practitioners can present their training on national and international platforms. Kalanjali, which began ten years ago, has grown into a national-level classical dance competition featuring Kathak and Bharatanatyam. Across its editions, the festival has brought teachers, practitioners, artists and rasikas together around Indian classical dance.
The 10th Kalanjali Utsav 2026, held from 13 to 16 August 2026 at Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar Natya Gruha, Mira Road East, Maharashtra, marked the festival’s 10th edition. The four-day event featured the national-level competition in Kathak and Bharatanatyam, giving participating artists an opportunity to present their training before audiences and fellow practitioners. The milestone edition featured 10 special awards, alongside the regular first, second and third prizes for participants.
The inaugural ceremony began with the traditional Deep Prajjwalan in the presence of special celebrity guest Mr. Girish Oak, a renowned Marathi film and theatre actor, editor and poetry writer. Narendra Lindait, director of ARTION, was present at the lamp-lighting ceremony. ARTION served as the Branding Partner for the 10th Kalanjali Utsav, managing the event’s branding across its offline and online communication.
ARTION, a platform associated with artists and diverse forms of art, was involved in presenting the visual identity of the 10th edition across its various event touchpoints. The association added another dimension to a festival centred on classical dance, bringing together the event’s cultural programming with a platform dedicated to artists and art forms.
Over ten editions, Kalanjali has given young practitioners a platform to perform, participate in competition and experience the work of fellow artists and established teachers. For Kalanand, the festival has become part of a larger effort to give disciples opportunities beyond the classroom, allowing their training to find expression before art connoisseurs.
The 10th edition highlighted this within Kalanand’s own 34-year journey. What began with two passionate learners has grown into a community of thousands who take pride in this art form and their skills. The presence of Guru Bhavana Lele and Pallavi Lele within the teaching process represents the transfer of knowledge, with practitioners learning within a tradition that has been passed through from one enthusiast to another.
Kalanand’s Kathak presentations have reached international platforms. The institution has participated in the Cultural Olympiad of Performing Arts in Bangkok and Paris, where its performers received gold and silver medals, adding international recognition to its Indian classical dance. Its international appearances have included invited performances in Mauritius, including a performance by founder-director Guru Bhavana Lele at the national Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations on the invitation of the Prime Minister of Mauritius.
The institution has received recognition from cultural organisations including the Akhil Bharatiya Sanskrutik Sangh (ABSS) for its contribution to presenting Indian cultural arts on international platforms. Guru Bhavana Lele has been honoured with the Nritya Gaurav Award by ABSS Pune on International Dance Day. Kalanand has further received institutional recognition in Maharashtra, including accreditation that enables dance achievements to be considered for grace marks in SSC board examinations.
These milestones form part of the wider 34-year record of Kalanand, with its students performing on national and international platforms and its teachers receiving recognition for their contribution to Indian classical arts. The 10th Kalanjali Utsav celebrated a decade of the festival while highlighting this larger body of achievements.
The festival’s conclusion featured Kalanand’s next major cultural event, the 34th Annual Gurupurnima Utsav, scheduled for 6 September 2026 at Gadkari Rangayatan, Thane, bringing gurus, artists and audiences together for another celebration of Indian classical arts. As new practitioners enter its classrooms and take to the stage, they will carry forward what they learn and treasure the richness of Indian classical dance for years to come.
Know more about Lele’s Kalanand Nritya Sanstha: www.kalanand.com
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