Ten-Day Festival of Music, Rhythm, and Culture to be Held at Chakradhar Ceremony
Renowned artists from across the country and state, including Kavita Krishnamurthy, Anuj Sharma, Bharti Bandhu, and Indian Idol fame artists, will showcase the colors of culture. The Ramlila Maidan of Raigarh will be vibrant with classical dance, Pandwani, folk music, Kabir bhajans, ghazals, and instrumental performances.
Raipur, September 10, 2026. The 41st International Chakradhar Ceremony-2026, dedicated to the artistic pursuits and rich cultural heritage of Maharaja Chakradhar Singh, will witness a confluence of diverse art and culture this year. This ten-day cultural extravaganza, to be held at Raigarh's Ramlila Maidan from September 14 to 23, will feature local talents alongside renowned artists from across the country and state showcasing their artistry. The cultural evenings, starting daily at 6 PM, will bring alive the rich tradition of Indian art and culture through classical dance, Chhattisgarhi folk art, Pandwani, folk music, Kabir bhajans, ghazals, and instrumental performances.
Organized by the District Administration with the support of the Department of Culture, Chhattisgarh Tourism Board, and public cooperation, this prestigious ceremony will feature Padmashree awardees and Indian Idol fame artists enthralling the audience with their performances. A unique aspect of the ceremony will be a different art form and theme presented each evening. For ten days, Raigarh's Ramlila Maidan will be a witness to a unique blend of melody, rhythm, dance, and folk traditions.
Opening with Ganesh Vandana, the first evening will be adorned with Pandwani and folk music.
The ceremony will commence on September 14 with a Ganesh Vandana performance by the disciples of Shri Vedmani Singh Thakur. Following this, Padmashree awardee Shri Anuj Sharma will present a performance of folk art and music. Padmashree awardee Dr. Usha Barle will make the first cultural evening memorable with her Pandwani performance. The ceremony will begin with the vibrant traditions of folk tunes, folk tales, and Pandwani.
September 15: A confluence of Tabla, Kuchipudi, and Rajasthani folk art.
The evening of September 15 will feature Nishit Gangani's tabla performance, T. Lakshmi Reddy's Kuchipudi presentation, Stark Society Barmer's Rajasthani folk performance, and Taruna Sahu and group's Pandwani performance. Additionally, the Madhavras Band will present devotional songs, filling the cultural evening with the essence of devotion.
September 16: The charm of Kathak and Chhattisgarhi folk dance.
On September 16, the diversity of Chhattisgarh's folk culture and classical dance will be showcased on stage. Maumala Nayak will present a Kathak performance. Bhupendra Sahu and group will present Chhattisgarhi folk dance. Dr. Yasmeen Singh and group, along with Ms. Vibhuti Sharma, will give Kathak performances, while Payal Sahu and group will spread the colors of folk art.
September 17: A trinity of Bharatanatyam, Odissi, and Kathak.
The evening of September 17 will witness a confluence of various classical dance forms along with folk art and music. The Badla-Bastar Academy of Dance, Arts, and Literature will present folk art and music. Madhumita Roy Mishra will perform Kathak, and Janhavi Behra will present Odissi dance. Shivranjani Harish and Kalaparna Dance Group, disciples of Padmabhushan Shobhana, will present Bharatanatyam. Shiv Shakti Kala Sansthan will also present a Kathak performance.
September 18: A melodious evening of Manipuri, Kuchipudi, and Kabir bhajans.
On September 18, Dr. Manju Ilangbam will present a Manipuri dance. Padmashree awardee Shri Bharti Bandhu will create a spiritual atmosphere with Kabir bhajans. Shweta Nayak and group will present Kuchipudi, and Shri Anurag Sharma will perform folk music.
The evening of September 19 will be adorned with poetry and Odissi.
September 19 will be special for lovers of art and literature. Gauri Shankar Dash and Reela Hota will present Odissi dance performances. Padmashree awardee Shri Surendra Sharma and other artists will add colors of humor and literature through a poetry evening. This confluence of dance and poetry will make the evening of the ceremony unique.
September 20: A unique blend of Gotipua, singing, and Kathak.
On September 20, Shri B. Sahu and group will present Gotipua dance. Indian Idol fame Amit Sana will entertain music lovers with his singing performance. Under the direction of Padmashree awardee Ramlal Bareth, Bhupendra Bareth and group will present Kathak dance. This blend of folk dance, popular singing, and classical dance will be a special attraction for the audience.
September 21: Kathak, Santoor-Pakhawaj-Tabla, and Dance Drama.
The evening of September 21 will be filled with diverse performances ranging from Kathak of the Banaras Gharana to instrumental music. Shri Rudrashankar Sinha will present Kathak of the Banaras Gharana. Shri Sonu Gupta and group will perform folk songs, Vasanti Vaishnav and group will present Kathak. Triveni Sangam will feature Santoor, Pakhawaj, and Tabla performances. Sanskar Kala Sangh will present a dance drama, and Nritanjali will perform Kathak of the Banaras Gharana.
September 22: Kathakali, Odissi, Sitar, and Sufi style.
The evening of September 22 will be dedicated to classical dance, instrumental music, and Sufi style. Guru Kottakkal Nandakumaran Nair will perform Kathakali, Ms. Diksha Rath will perform Odissi dance, and Prof. Dr. Lovely Sharma will present Sitar instrumental music. Shri Punarik Sahu-Lahrangga will present folk music, while Raigarh's Rakesh Sharma will create a melodious evening with Sufi singing and ghazals.
Grand Finale with the voices of Kavita Krishnamurthy and Jaan Kumar Sanu.
The ten-day ceremony will conclude grandly on September 23. The final evening will feature the renowned and Padmashree awardee singer Kavita Krishnamurthy with her melodious performance. Jaan Kumar Sanu will also present a vocal performance. This evening, filled with the voices of popular artists from across the country, will long cherish the memories of the 41st Chakradhar Ceremony in the hearts of the audience.
Raigarh will become a center of art and culture.
The 41st Chakradhar Ceremony is not just an event of cultural performances, but an important platform to further the artistic pursuits, dedication to music and dance of Maharaja Chakradhar Singh, and the rich cultural traditions of Chhattisgarh. The opportunity for local artists to perform on the same stage alongside national and international artists is a special achievement of the ceremony.
This cultural event in Raigarh from September 14 to 23 will create a festive atmosphere for art lovers for ten days. From various forms of classical dance to Chhattisgarhi folk tunes, Pandwani, bhajans, ghazals, and popular singing, the Chakradhar Ceremony will offer a vibrant world of diversity and richness of Indian culture, transforming Raigarh into the capital of art and culture for ten days.