Ellora Ajanta Aurangabad festival, organized in Aurangabad region of Maharashtra, celebrates the rich cultural legacy of India through dance and music. The event is a joint venture of Aurangabad Festival Committee under the chairmanship of the Divisional Commissioner of Aurangabad and the MTDC. It was introduced with the aim of connecting the people with the historical and pictorial places in and around Aurangabad along with showcasing the notable talents in the cultural arena of the country. An ancient palace, known as Soneri Mahal, serves as the venue for the festival since 2002, however previously was held at the gorgeous Ellora caves. Soneri Mahal was built in 17th century by Orcha chieftain Pahadsing and is counted amongst the architectural marvels of the city. Celebrated every year for 4 days in the month of January, Ellora Ajanta Aurangabad festival is a pure cultural extravaganza and a delightful event for the art lovers.

Performances at Ellora Ajanta Aurangabad Festival
Soneri Mahal, the venue of the festival, itself creates an exotic aura owing to its praiseworthy architecture. The exponents of music and dance performing with the artistic backdrop of a historical palace enthral the audiences in the event. The evenings are graced by the musical or dance performances of distinguished artists hailing from all around the country. The diversity of performing arts in India can be truly experienced in this festival as the cultural evenings bring together the folk and classical singers and dancers together on the same stage. Instrumentals are another captivating feature of Ellora Ajanta Aurangabad festival. Over years the festival has witnessed mesmerizing performances of maestros like Ghulam Ali, Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan, Pandit Jasraj, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Hema Malini, Hariharan and many others.

Kalagram at Ellora Ajanta Aurangabad Festival
Kalagram forms another alluring feature of the festival in which the local craftsmen and artisans put up numerous stalls to promote their artistic works. Apart from the lucrative business the stalls offer, they also provide a platform to display the talents of craftsmen. Apart from local artisans, people from distant regions also arrive to participate in the event. During the festival, various competitive events are also organized including Bhajan singing, Essay, Cookery, Mehendi, Rangoli and many more. A number of enthusiasts partake in these events. Merry making and cherishing the performing arts of India become the focus of all the people participating in Ellora Ajanta Aurangabad festival. The pulse and enthusiasm revealed by this vibrant festival of Maharashtra is worth experiencing.