Legendary Kathak dancer Birju Maharaj passes away

New Delhi, Jan 17: Birju Maharaj the legendary Kathak dancer passed away today. He was 83.

He was an exponent of the Kalka-Bindadin Gharana of Lucknow. He was born into a well known family of Kathak dancing. He was shaped by the influence of his father Achchan Maharaj, uncles Shambhu and Lachchu Maharaj and Binadadeen Maharaj.

He began performing as a child with his father and became a Guru in his teens, Birju Maharaj also performed the durbar of Rampur Nawab. He won the coveted Sangeet Natak Academy award when he was just 28 years old.

भारतीय नृत्य कला को विश्वभर में विशिष्ट पहचान दिलाने वाले पंडित बिरजू महाराज जी के निधन से अत्यंत दुख हुआ है। उनका जाना संपूर्ण कला जगत के लिए एक अपूरणीय क्षति है। शोक की इस घड़ी में मेरी संवेदनाएं उनके परिजनों और प्रशंसकों के साथ हैं। ओम शांति! pic.twitter.com/PtqDkoe8kd

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 17, 2022

President Ram Nath Kovind, VP M. Venkaiah Naidu, Union Ministers @AmitShah, @nitin_gadkari, @nsitharaman,@mansukhmandviya, @PiyushGoyal expressed grief & offered condolences on the demise of Pandit Birju Maharaj. pic.twitter.com/xJaHZhXJAo

— Prasar Bharati News Services पी.बी.एन.एस. (@PBNS_India) January 17, 2022

Birju Maharaj was a recipient of several awards including the Padma Vibhushan in 1986. He choreographed several dance dramas and was known as an excellent choreographer.