LAHORE – The Alhamra Arts Council announced its first “Kathak Festival” in tribute to Maharaj Ghulam Hussain, also known as Maharaj Kathak and Baba Maharaj. The event is scheduled to take place on May 7 and 8 and will feature performances by a range of artists from across Pakistan.
The event was announced on Instagram. Organisers shared that it will include in-depth panel discussions and interactive workshops titled “Thaat” and “Abhinaya,” to be led by senior artists.
The Art of Kathak
Kathak, derived from the Sanskrit word “Katha” which means “story,” was one of the eight major forms of dance during the pre-partition era. It originated from Northern India and is known as an art form characterised by footwork, expressive storytelling, facial expressions, and pirouettes.
Preserving a Legacy
Maharaj Ghulam Hussain dedicated his life to nurturing and preserving Kathak in Lahore after partition through performance, teaching, and rigorous discipline. His efforts laid the foundation for generations of Kathak practitioners in Pakistan. The upcoming festival aims to keep this history alive by celebrating the cultural traditions woven into Kathak while bridging the gap between its sacred roots and contemporary aesthetics. For Lahoris, it serves as an invitation to pause and engage with the rhythm of tradition.
Featured Artists
Organisers have invited Kathak artists from across the country to apply and present their work, opening submissions for emerging talent. Some of the selected participants include Kanza Bano, Timsal Fatima, Hammad Rasheed, Nighat Chaudhry, Jessica Zakria Iqbal, and Adnan Jahangir, among others.
Partnership with Naqshepaa
The festival is also partnering with Naqshepaa, a platform dedicated to bringing together heritage, art, and film to share stories rooted in identity and culture. Through the collaboration, the event seeks to bridge the past, document histories, and support contemporary artists.
Analysis: Reviving a Lost Tradition
The Alhamra Arts Council’s first Kathak Festival is a significant cultural event for Lahore. Kathak, once a thriving art form in pre-partition India, found a home in Lahore after 1947 thanks to the efforts of Maharaj Ghulam Hussain. His dedication ensured that the tradition continued in Pakistan even as it flourished across the border.
The inclusion of panel discussions and workshops — “Thaat” (a term referring to the stance or posture in Kathak) and “Abhinaya” (the expressive aspect of the dance) — suggests that the festival is not merely a performance showcase but an educational initiative.
The partnership with Naqshepaa, a platform focused on heritage and storytelling, indicates an intention to document and preserve the history of Kathak in Pakistan.
For Lahore’s cultural scene, the festival is a welcome addition. In a city known for its rich artistic heritage, the Kathak Festival could become an annual event that honours the past while nurturing future practitioners.
