17th Kathakali Festival Inaugurated at Kalakshetra Foundation in Chennai

The 17th Kathakali Festival, organized by the Kalakshetra Foundation under the Ministry of Culture, was inaugurated at the Bharata Kalakshetra Auditorium in Chennai. Scheduled from 18 to 20 September 2026 under the theme “Kadha Rasa Sangama – Confluence of Essence of Stories”, the three-day festival features performances by Sadanam Academy, Kerala Kalamandalam, and Margi Theatre. The event showcases productions such as “Mandodari”, “The Old Man and the Sea”, and “Rugmangada Charitham”, alongside lecture-demonstrations and student presentations. The Kalakshetra Foundation, established in 1936 by Rukmini Devi Arundale, works toward the preservation and dissemination of India's classical arts and cultural heritage.