KALIDASA FESTIVAL

Kalidasa Festival is a prestigious programme of Madhya Pradesh, which reflects all such multi-dimensional activities. It has a history of several decades. The first Kalidasa Festival, organized by the Government of Madhya Pradesh, was inaugurated by first President of India His Excellency Late Dr. Rajendra Prasad. Late Prime Minister Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru was the next dignitary ro inaugurate the Festival. This tradition has continued for last several decades and the great writers, artists, scholars as well as statesman have graced the Festival with their presence. The Festival starts on Devaprabodhini Ekadashi and continues for seven days which includes National and International seminars, series of lectures, conventions of poets of Sanskrit as well as of the other Indian languages ( Kavi Samavaya and Antara-Bharati). All India inter-university and inter-collage debates on Kalidasa and his works in Sanskrity and Hindi, different competitions for school children, the research sessions for the scholars representing universities are also organized by the Vikram University, Ujjain.

Another attraction of this festival is an all India competition of the Painting and Sculpture inspired by the works of Kalidasa. Five prizes of Rs 15000 each are awarded to the works adjudged by the penal of the jury. An Exhibition of selected Painting and Sculptures takes place on this Festival.

The colorful evening of Kalidasa Festival starts with the presentation of Kalidasa's Plays in original and directed by the eminent theatre men of the renowned institutions of the Country. For the next Six days the Plays of Kalidasa as well as other Sanskrit Playwright are presented either in Hindi or in other Indian Languages. It would not be out of place to mention that from time to time renowned troupes from abroad are also invited to stage their productions based on classical Sanskrit works as well as from their own classical tradition.

Programmes includes the presentation of Classical as well as Modern Indian Plays and Writings composed in classical and folk dance forms. Besides, artist of the highest repute of Indian Classical Dance and Vocal recital as well as instrumental music, join festival on the concluding days.

Kalidas Academy organize such a multi-dimensional activity through out the year which includes the academic programme based on Vedas, Vedangas, Ancient Indian Philosophy and other traditional shastras . Kalidas Academy and its Sanskrit Prabhag (The former M.P. Sanskrit Academy) organize such programme of highest academic merit in-order to propagate and preserve the Indian Shastric and literary tradition.