Dancers narrate stories of strength & survival

The Annual LalitArpan Festival (24th edition), held on October 8 and 9, 2025, at the Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, left audiences deeply moved and inspired by its powerful theme — “Antah-Shakti: Courage and Hope.

” This year, it presented a fascinating fusion of solo and group dance dramas that illuminated real-life stories of strength and inner transformation through the language of Kathak.

The opening evening, featured “Agnipankh” by Shovana Narayan and Shruti Gupta Chandra, portraying the inspiring lives of real-life stories of three brave, young, and courageous persons- an autistic pianist, a transgender and an acid victim survivor - all of whom are working in the hospitality industry.

The performance was followed by “Kathak” by Nrityashree Alaknanda, a cancer survivor whose expressive movements graced the stage in a solo performance, reflecting the power of the human spirit.

On October 9, “Parkaya” by Akshobhya Bhardwaj from Mumbai presented a deeply personal and artistic Kathak journey that transcends physical limitations and embraces inner transformation through Kathak, while “Rashmirathi” presented by Asavari, Ensemble and choreographed by Guru Shovana Narayan, brought to life the story of Karna, the bold young warrior of the Mahabharata who, despite being abandoned at birth and raised by a charioteer which made him an outcast, became a powerful warrior and remained steadfastly committed to his perceived duty, even in the face of moral dilemma.

The eminent guests who graced the event included Lt. Governor Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena & Smt. Sangita Saxena, Dr KG Suresh, Preeti Aggarwal, Gayatri Prakash, Jyotsna Suri, Odissi Dancer Sharon Lowen, Sunit Tandon, Artist Naresh Kapuria, Ranjana Narayan, Actress Joyoshree Arora, Bharata Natyam Dancer Prathibha Prahlad, and K. Shiva Prasad.