Pragjyoti International Dance Festival or PIDF is an annual dance festival arranged by `Kalpa, a Society for Promotion of Literature, Art, Culture and Social Harmony` in the north-eastern Indian state of Assam. Directorate of Cultural Affairs (Government of Assam), Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) (Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India), Sub-Divisional Office- Bokakhat and Assam Tourism Development Corporation Limited jointly arrange the Pragjyoti International Dance Festival. The very first PIDF was conducted during the year 2009 and it aimed to employ dance as a medium to promote the famous culture and heritage of the state of Assam and also to preserve Mother Nature of this area.
This dance festival is organised at numerous tourist destinations of Assam and Guwahati is the main, official venue of this festival. Awareness is generated about the abundant natural resources of Assam and the idea of conservation of the many natural historical sites of Assam is smartly communicated through the Pragjyoti International Dance Festival. The Joint Secretary of Kalpa & Festival Director of the festival is the well-known Sattriya danseuse, named Anwesa Mahanta. Under the joint supervision of Anwesa Mahanta and Professor Pradip Jyoti Mahanta Kalpa, this Indian dance festival aims to provide a wonderful platform to budding dancers to exhibit their dancing skills and talents. Another goal of this festival is to be a joint space for cultural and social convergence. Various dancers and artists from numerable portions of the country visit Assam to readily participate in the Pragjyoti International Dance Festival.
Innumerable dancers throng to take part in this festival, not only from within the nation but also overseas which include regions like France, Russia, United States, Nepal, Bangladesh, United Kingdom, Poland and others. The number of participants in Pragjyoti International Dance Festival keeps on increasing every year and it is extremely popular. A large number of tourists also assemble as audience, to witness the spectacular dance performances performed here. Apart from the several dances, a number of interactive events are also organised by Kalpa which offers a golden opportunity of general communication and interaction of the classical dancers performing at the festival.
