Place : Chidambaram

Venue : Nataraja Temple

Date : February – March every year

Dance is the language of love, tribute, reverence and passion. A slight wave of the fingers or the sublime beauty of the dancer's vivid eyes will bring out thousands of emotions with in us. We feel aroused as the music reaches the climax, at the same time we feel depressed as the music ceases. These mesmerizing dances are as old as this mankind and will prevail till dooms day. The lord of dance, the peerless cosmic dancer Lord Nataraja is believed to be the originator of Bharatanatyam, one of the revered, exquisite dances of India. Without a Bharatanatyam performance temple function ends, it is a ritual that if we pay our tribute to God through dance, He will be pleased and shower his blessings on his devotees.

Natyanjali : Natyanjali is one such dance offerings to the Almighty. It first sprouted in the year 1981, with few dancers and less audience, but now its name and fame went beyond boundaries. This dance festival is commemorated on Shivaratri for five days, at Chidambaram Nataraja temple. Dancers from all over India meet here and offer their beloved possession “their Dance” to the Lord and to the eager audience. We can relish all varieties of dances under one roof, starting from Bharatanatyam to Kathakali.

History :The history of Natyanjali says, decades back, a Muslim dancer taught dance to all the neighbourhood children at free of cost, in Chidambaram temple. Even though he was a Muslim his passion for Bharatanatyam knew no bounds. His students used to perform their dance once a year to the public, which became the spark for Natyanjali festival.

Day of Celebration :This festival falls in the eve of Maha Shivaratri, during the month of February - March, at Chidambaram Nataraja temple. This festival brings out the real tradition and culture of Indians and through these beautiful dances we come to know about our ancient lore, mythologies and customs. Take a break from your mundane life and give a pleasant treat to your eyes and ears, by joining Natyanjali festival.

How To Reach :

Bus : Chidambaram is a well-connected city by road transport; there are direct bus from Trichy, Madurai, Chennai and Thanjavur.

Train : Chidambaram railway station is located near to the Nataraja temple; there are local trains from Chidambaram to Chennai and Trichy frequently.

Airport : The nearest airport is in Trichy.