Aakruti Kathak Kendra

With the blessings of our Guru Smt. Mangala Didi and Guru ji, Aakruti Kathak Kendra is delighted to present a Kathak duet by senior disciples and .preeti at Abhyudaya Festival organized by

Happening on 23rd May, at 5:30 pm at Sacred Space.
Join us for a vibrant evening filled with art, rhythm and devotion.

Join us this Saturday for Tarang, our annual summer concert, on 25th April at 7:00 pm, CCRT Madhapur.

On this special day, we bow in gratitude to our Guruma, our beloved Mangala Didi, for shaping our art & our lives. Her grace, patience and dedication has been a foundation in the journey of all her students and we feel her blessings with us everywhere, everyday.

Your selfless and endless love continues to fill every space, guiding us always.

Pranaam and Happy birthday Mangala Didi.

2026 begins on a propitious note with a stage talk called ‘Tatkaar’ at Hyderabad Literary Festival celebrating the life and legacy of our dear Guru Smt Mangala Bhatt ji on 26th January.

It is a panel discussion with noted Kathak exponent and dance scholar, Dr. Arshiya Sethi and Mr. Ashhar Farhan, Trustee, Lamakaan, moderated by Mrinalini Shastry, Entrepreneur and Senior disciple of Guru Mangala Bhatt ji. The session will also include a montage of her performances and archived photographs as well as a performance by Guru Mangala Bhatt’s senior disciples Divya Pathak, Dr. Preeti Krishnan and Harika Andukuri.

You are requested to attend along with your friends and family as the city of Hyderabad pauses to acknowledge Guru Mangala Bhatt’s contribution to Kathak dance as well as to the cultural landscape of the Hyderabad.
Details are in the attached poster.
Please make sure to attend.

.preeti

We are still reeling from all the love and warmth shown for Antarang festival held in December, 2025.
What makes it most special is when our tiny tots develop interest in learning and loving Kathak. This is the beginning of Kathak being more than dance, rather a way of life.

Some special pics of the artwork & diary notes of some of our most loved (not so junior!) students of the Aakruti family as well as heartfelt thoughts of beginners performing for the first time at Antarang.

Thank you Swara, Kuvika, Radhe, Niharika, Neha for sharing!

Let’s close this year with a spectacular evening of Kathak - “Nritya Sandhya” for the All India Crafts Mela 2025 at on 26th December.
We have lined up performances depicting Bhakti, Abhinaya and Nritta - the three dimensions that represent the fundamental core of Kathak.
Come join us celebrate Kathak !!

preeti

It’s that time of the year as we gear up for our annual showcase - “Antarang” dance festival.
Antarang festival, started by Guru Vidushi Mangala Bhatt ji, is a tribute honouring the legacy of Kathak meastro Pandit Durga Lal ji.

Every year students of Aakruti display thematic productions & choreographies. This year, we present - Shiva Parashakti - the divine union of consciousness and creative energy that governs our Universe.
The entire production this year has been curated with some powerful devotional melodies and some timeless choreographies by Guru Vidushi Mangala Bhatt ji and guided by Guru Raghav Raj Bhatt ji.

Join us to celebrate an ethereal evening of Kathak on 16th December, at Ravindra Bharathi Lakadikapul, 6:30pm onwards.

.culture

Aakruti Kathak Kendra sends best wishes and heartiest congratulations to our senior students & .preeti
on their selection as Doordarshan “B grade” artists.

None of this would have been possible without the blessings of Guru Mangala Bhatt ji and Guru Raghav Raj Bhatt ji for which we are eternally grateful. We hope to carry forward their vision & their legacy to greater heights and wish for many more milestones to be achieved.

It was indeed a truly blessed opportunity for Team Aakruti to be able to perform at Nada Neerajanam, Tirumala on 26th November.
Within the premises of Shri Venkateshwara Swamy temple, surrounded by a peaceful aura and a thoughtfully curated devotional lineup of 60 minutes, it was a divine experience that remains unmatched.
Forever grateful to Guru ji for his guidance and Guru Vidushi Mangala Bhatt ji for her blessings always.

Link for the performance video on SVBC channel: https://youtu.be/brCrez45d0c?si=Y2y5vMhxuzsmH5UJ


.preeti

Aigiri Nandini is a devotional mantra that can destroy our fears, vices & sorrows and bestow upon us the compassionate blessing of Devi. This sacred composition invokes the divine energy and grace, describing the Goddess as “the daughter of the mountain King”, the Goddess who killed the demon Mahishasura and hence came to be revered as “Mahishasura Mardhini”.

This composition is extremely special as every small part of it was very thoughtfully put together by Guru Vidushi Mangala Bhatt ji and choreographed with a lot of reflection and vision.

Presenting snaps of the presentation of Aigiri Nandini at Arpan, held on 27th September, in celebration of the legacy of Guru Vidushi Mangala Bhatt ji.

Thank you for capturing such beautiful pictures!

.preeti .pratinidhi