Harihar National Theatre Festival from July 24

 

 

 

The Department of Culture, Government of State in collaboration with State School of Drama, is organising the Harihar National Theatre Festival from July 24 to 29 July 2025 and Bharatmuni National Symposium on Natyashastra from July 25 to 28. The events will be held at Ravindra Bhavan’s Hansdhvani, Anjani, and Gauranjani auditoriums. The festival aims to celebrate Indian culture, theatre, and the deep bond between nature and humanity. Addressing a press conference at Tribal Museum, Culture Minister Dharmendra Singh Lodhi highlighted that the festival reflects the unity of art and ideas, promoting dialogue and balance in theatre.

 

The festival’s inauguration on July 24 coincides with Hariyali Amavasya, symbolizing harmony with nature. The symposium on Natyashastra will feature 18 eminent theatre experts and scholars over four days. Their lectures and research papers will be documented by the Culture Department as reference material for future generations. Over 15 universities and drama institutions, including the National School of Drama, Bharatendu Natya Academy, Banaras Hindu University, Punjab University and Raja Mansingh Tomar University, will participate.

 

The festival will feature eight acclaimed plays: Samudramanthan (July 24), Mohe Piya (July 25), Suvasantak and Natyotpathi (July 26), Vishwamitra and Harshita (July 27), Sheela. Antaratma ka Swaroop (July 28), and Charaiveti (July 29). The symposium will cover topics such as the relevance of Natyashastra in contemporary theatre, aesthetics, acting, classical music, architecture and philosophical foundations. Noted experts including Chittaranjan Tripathi, Vaman Kendre, Piyal Bhattacharya, Sandhya Purecha, and Devendraraj Ankur will deliver lectures. Alongside the festival, two art exhibitions – Bhageshwar (focused on the lion’s cultural symbolism) and Manidhar (depicting snake imagery) – will be showcased from July 24 to 29 at Ravindra Bhavan.