The Nrityagram Dance Ensemble, which performed on Sunday evening at the Kennedy Center’s ‘maximum INDIA’ festival.

Throngs of people and sold out performances have been the norm for the past several days at the Kennedy Center. Whether it’s South Asian women dressed in their finest silk saris or just curious passers-by who seek a different cultural experience, the Center’s maximum INDIA offers something for everyone. Like the country for which it is named, the festival’s opening week was a feast for the senses, giving attendees an explosion of color and energy to close this dreary winter and welcome the warm hues of spring.

The three-week extravaganza began with a free recital from U. Shrinivas on the Millennium Stage. A renowned exponent of South India’s ancient Carnatic music tradition, the performance figuratively and literally set the stage for the rest of the festival by striving for a blend that would honor India’s age-old traditions while recognizing its vitality as a rich source of contemporary culture.