Over 50 Artistes to Recreate Mahabharata in Pune; Half of Ticket Proceeds for Drought Relief
Pune, 10th November 2026: Eight classical dance traditions will come together on a single stage in Pune to present different chapters of the Mahabharata, in a production featuring more than 50 artistes from across India. The performance will also have a social cause, with Pune Art And Culture Foundation (PACF) pledging 50 per cent of the ticket-sale proceeds towards drought relief initiatives in Maharashtra.
Titled Ashta Bhava, Ashta Nritya – Mahabharata, the production will be staged on November 22 at Balgandharva Rangmandir. It will explore eight episodes from the Indian epic through eight classical dance forms, drawing on the nine emotional expressions (Navarasas) associated with the ancient Natya Shastra.
The presentation will portray several defining moments and characters from the Mahabharata, including Draupadi’s humiliation, Abhimanyu’s final battle in the Chakravyuh, Karna’s life and dilemmas, and the confrontation between Bheem and Dushasana. Other episodes include Lakshagriha, Chitrangada and Arjun, and Virat Roop Darshan.
The participating artistes include established dance gurus and students representing Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka, Assam and West Bengal. The lineup features Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee and Kuchipudi exponent Guru Vasanth Kiran, Odissi exponent Guru Rasika Gumaste, Bharatanatyam exponent Guru Arundhati Patwardhan, Kathakali exponent Renjish Nair and Kathak exponent Guru Leen Ketkar.
Sattriya exponent Dr Devika Borthakur will take on the role of sutradhar, providing continuity between the different episodes and connecting the eight dance presentations.
Explaining the concept, PACF Director Gayatri Mishra said the production seeks to bring together India’s diverse classical dance traditions while highlighting the emotions and human dilemmas reflected in the Mahabharata.
She said the initiative is intended to make classical dance more accessible to audiences by presenting familiar stories from the epic through different artistic traditions.
The programme also draws inspiration from the national initiative ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’, using performing arts as a platform to showcase India’s cultural diversity.
The performance will begin at 5.30 pm on November 22.
For details: 9226955491
