In the month of February every year, Art Vision, in collaboration with Odisha Tourism and Nalco, organises the Dhauli Kalinga Mahotsav, a festival exclusively dedicated to martial dances. The Festival takes place at the footstep of the Dhauli stupa, the Japanese Buddist Temple situated on a hill at the outskirts of modern Bhubaneswar. This is the place where Emperor Ashok is believed to have fought the last battle of the great Kalinga war before surrendering the sword and embracing Buddism.
The calm and solemn statue of Buddha overlooking the entire stage from the top of the stupa and the tranquil expanse of the countryside populated by paddy fields and cashew plantations provides the peaceful background to the outburst of movements and sounds which accompanied the performance of the martial artists. The aim of the organisers is to ‘harmonise the vigour of martial tradition with the sublimity of peace through dance performances’.
Every year the Festival opens with a modern choreography based on martial art and then showcases traditional martial dance forms from different parts of India. During the 1st Kalinga Mahotsav, which took place on the 1st and 2nd of February 2003 a creative choreography 'Jarjara' was presented as the opening item followed by Paika Dance from Odisha. The 2nd Dhauli Kalinga Mahotsav, which took place on the on the 13th and 14th of February 2004, opened with an item of Mayurbhanji Chhau followed by 'Sound of Silence'. The 3rd Kalinga Mahotsav took place at Dhauli Stupa on the 4th and 5th of February2005.4th Kalinga MahotsavThe 4th Kalinga Mahotsav was organized by Art Vision in collaboration with Odisha Tourism and Nalco at Dhauli, Bhubaneswar, on the 4th and 5th of February 2006.The 5th Kalinga Mahotsav – a national festival of Martial dances,was held at Dheuli stupa, on the 4th and 5th of February 2007 jointly organized by Art Vision and Odisha Tourism.The 6th kalinga mahotsav- a festival of Martial dances, was held at Dheuli stupa, Bhubaneswar, on the 23rd and 24th of Feb. 2008. The 7th Kalinga Mahotsav a national Festival of Martial Arts was held at Dhauli Shanti Stupa, Bhubaneswar, on the 10th and 11th of January 2009. The 8th Kalinga Mahotsav a national Festival of Martial Arts was held at Dhauli Shanti Stupa, Bhubaneswar, on the 10th and 11th of January 2010. The 9th Dhauli Kalinga Mahotsav a National Festival of Martial Arts was held at the historically significant Dhauli hills on the bank of River Daya near Bhubaneswar, on the 10th and 11th of January 2011. The 10th Kalinga Mahotsav was organized by Odisha Tourism in collaboration with Art Vision and Odisha Dance Academi at Dhauli hill on the 13th and 14th of December 2011.