Kathak Legend Birju Maharaj Passes Away

Kathak legend Pandit Birju Maharaj (Brij Mohan Nath Mishra) has passed away on 16 January 2022.
He was an exponent of the Kalka-Bindadin Gharana of Lucknow.
His dance underlines the Lucknow Kalka-Bindadin gharana features — ang (physical beauty), layakari (lyrical melody) and abhinaya (mime).
He was a distinguished performer with complex rhythmic structures, lightning-fast spins and poetic expressions.
While he was best known as a Kathak dancer, he was an equally prolific singer, poet and painter.
Birju Maharaj was a descendant of the Maharaj family of Kathak dancers, which includes his two uncles, Shambhu Maharaj and Lachhu Maharaj, and his father and guru, Acchan Maharaj.
He was awarded Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1964) and Padma Vibhushan in 1986.