Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan will inaugurate Kerala Tourism's dance and music festival 'Nishagandhi - 2009' at Kanakakkunnu Palace compound in Thiruvananthapuram on January 20.

The festival will last for seven days. Rajendra Gangani, a noted exponent of the Jaipur School of Kathak, is going to perform 'Ras Rang'. Geetha Chandran's Bharatnatyam 'Ekam Sat' and Guru Singhajit Singh's Manipuri will be staged on January 21. Ghazal singer Talat Aziz's music performance will be at Nishagandhi from 6.45 p.m. on January 22. Vinitha Nedungadi will present Mohiniyattom on January 23. It will be followed by the staging of Chhau dance by Shashadhar Acharya. The festival will also feature fusion music by Karaikudi Mani (Mridangam), V. Suresh (Ghatam), B.V. Balasai (flute), B.V. Raghavendra Rao (electric violin), U.P. Raju (mandolin) and V.B. Madhusudhanan (tabla) on January 26. As in the previous editions, Kathakali will be staged on all evenings from 6.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. at Kanakakkunnu. – Sampurn Media