The Festival that transforms the Elephanta island into a huge open air auditorium, will feature artistes like Tabla exponent Ustad Zakir Hussain, renowned Mohiniattam danseuse Dr Neena Prasad, Kuchipudi dancers Dr Ananda Shankar Jayant and Shallu Jindal and renowned Hindustani classical music singer Pandit Sanjeev Abhyankar. The festival is being organised by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) in association with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) which has been the festival's sponsor for two years.

Abhay Yawalkar, joint MD, MTDC said, “Minister for tourism Vijaysinh Mohite Patil visited the island last month and then planned for the festival after thorough study. Every year, there are around 1,200 visitors. This year we plan to add 200 more seats.”

Yajuvindra Singh Bilkha, head India marketing, TCS said that the organisation was proud to associate itself with such a renowned festival that ‘portrayed cultural part of our Indian inheritance’. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Bhushan Gagarani, secretary (tourism), government of Maharashtra and MD, MTDC talked about the progress of work on the UNESCO's world heritage site and the festival, “The Elephanta Festival is a complex project because of the involvement of several agencies — as majority of the island comes under the Forest department, it falls under the Raigad zilla parishad, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) and the jetty under Maharashtra Maritime Board. Work of renovation, water supply, jetty and some other areas on the island is proceeding well with some of the work already completed and some that is under progress.”

When asked about lack of exposure of local artisans during the festival, Yawalkar said, “The festival is been organised just for two days and so there are time constraints. But we do give opportunities to local talent during other festivals that MTDC organises.”

Tickets for the festival cost Rs 300 which includes to and fro journey by launch between Gateway of India to Elephanta Island. Launches will depart from Gateway of India between 4 pm and 6.30 pm. MTDC has also requested Central and Western Railway to ply special late night local trains on the two days.

Performances
Friday
15 February : Dr Ananda Shankar Jayant (Kuchipudi), Ustad Zakir Hussain (Tabla)