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Two years after the 26/11 terror attacks cast a shadow over the Elephanta festival,the State Tourism Department is gearing up to organise the gala event at the historic and scenic rock-cut temples on the island off the coast of Mumbai.
In November 2008,after ten armed men entered the island city via the sea route,the Mumbai Police had stalled the night ferry service between Gateway of India and the Elephanta caves. With security measures and vigilance stepped up,and night ferries once again permitted by the Home Department,the Tourism Department is now set to organise the festival in the end of February.
Renowned classical artistes will perform to the backdrop of the magnificent rock-cut temples,built between AD 450 and AD 750. The event begins around 7 pm and goes on till 10 pm.
The festival will be organised this year. There is no problem with the night ferries as it has been permitted by the police. We will finalise the dates in a few days,but it will be in end of February, said a senior Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) official.
Organised since 1989 by the MTDC,the Elephanta Festival is a tribute to classical performers and an initiative to popularise Indian classical dance and heritage art forms.
In 2008,Ustad Zakir Hussain,Pt Sanjeev Abhyankar had regaled the audience,while the plans for the festival in 2009 had to be cancelled after the terror attack. Ferry boats leave from Gateway of India during the festival in the evening and night.
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