The Natyanjali Trust which hosts the annual Natyanjali Dance Festival at the Lord Nataraja Temple in Chidamabaram has announced that the fest will be launched on March 13, on Sivaratri evening.

It will be held for five days in the evenings.

Over 300 artistes will participate in this unique event which is a form of tribute to the Lord and is held in the outer yard of the temple's eastern side.

There was some delay in the announcement by the Trust because the Dikshitars were tied up with a legal case on the issue of the rights of management of this temple following the state government's take over last year.

The Brahanatyanjali team which hosts a similar Fest at the Brihadeeswarar Temple has also decided to launch it on March 13 and will run it for five evenings. Over 200 artistes will be featured here.

Similar Natyanjalis are held in the temples in Sirkazhi, Kumbakonam, Nagapattinam, Karaikkal and Tiruchi.

All these are local initiatives. Some have been generated by dancer-guru Padma Subrahmanyam who is keen to have temples host dance recitals.

The Chidambaram hosts are in the process of drawing up the schedule and sending invitations to the artistes.

Those who plan to attend the Fest here are advised to book hotel accommodation in advance because most are reserved for visiting artistes.

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