Shri Ram Bhartiya Kala Kendra

The Shriram Bhartiya Kala Mandir, popularly known as Bhartiya Kala Kendra, is one of the premier cultural institutions of India in New Delhi popularizing Indian music, dance and performing arts.

Shriram Bhartiya Kala Kendra (SBKK) is situated in the cultural hub of Delhi at Copernicus Marg in Mandi House Area. It was established by Sumita Charat Ram in 1952. Presently, Shoba Deepak Singh, daughter of the founder is its director.

Bharatiya Kala Kendra imparts training in Indian Classical music and dance styles that includes Hindustani Classical Music, Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Odissi and Charu. It imparts both Instrumental and Vocal.

For the performing arts, Bharatiya Kala Kendra has an associated organization through which it spreads out Indian Performing Arts. This Shriram Centre for Performing Arts is at Safdar Hasmi Marg also in Mandi House Area.

The main aim of this Kendra is to preserve the cultural heritage and promote performing arts. All their activities are linked with the contemporary performing arts and deal with the various issues that arise within their field. They capture and showcase aesthetically everything best from Indian mythology, folklore and religion.

They have a permanent dance-drama group. They are well known for their Ram Lila performance annually. So far they have enacted 2000 nights of Ram Lila during ‘Dussehra’ period both in abroad and India.  One of their notable achievements is their active efforts on the revival of Kathak, classical dance form of North India.  Now, it has been back to its real form enjoying its original dignity.

College of Music and Drama

One of the two wings of Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra, this college offers the following courses:

Courses

• Hindustani classical Vocal
• Hindustani classical instruments: Tabla, Sitar and Sarod
• Light Classical Vocal
• Bharatanatyam
• Kathak
• Odissi dance
• Chhau – Mayurbhanj  
• Ballet / Contemporary Dance

Performing Arts Wing

They have production house in which the dance dramas including ‘Ram Lila’ are choreographed and are performed throughout the world.

Festivals of SBKK

• Krishna: This is celebrated during August and September particularly from 26th August to 28th August and the shows are performed at Kamani Auditorium. While depicting the story of Krishna, the story of Mahabharata including the message of the famous ‘Gita’ is enacted.
• Ram: During September and October, the life of ‘Ram’ or the story of Ramayana will be enacted highlighting the moral ‘good wins over evil’.
• Music Festival is held during February.
• Holi Festival is celebrated during March
• Summer Ballet Festival: This is held during May and the dance dramas performed every year are
  • Dance of Shiva – ballet in Mayurbhanj Chhau
  • Shree Durga – Woman
  • Karna – ballet in Mayurbhanj Chhau
  • Khajuraho - ballet in Mayurbhanj Chhau
  • Kamayani - ballet in Mayurbhanj Chhau
  • Meera – Dance-drama of Meerabai

Prestigious Award

Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra established the award of ‘Sumitra Charat Ram Award’ for Lifetime Achievement in 2011. The first award was given to Pandit Birju Maharaj and the next year, it was awarded to Kishori Amonkar.