Bhubaneswar: Six eminent artistes from Odisha were among the recipients of the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards for 2024 and 2025, presented by President Droupadi Murmu during a ceremony held at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi Thursday. The awards were presented to more than 100 artistes for their contributions to various performing arts, including music, dance, theatre, folk and tribal arts, puppetry and traditional theatre.
For 2024, Odissi exponent Bichitra Nanda Swain was honoured for his contribution to Odissi, while Ranajit Kumar Nag received the award for his contribution to Sambalpuri folk dance. For 2025, Padma Shri Ileana Citaristi received the award for her contribution to Odissi, Sachidananda Das for Mardala, Pagulu Jena for Mayurbhanj Chhau, and theatre director Subodh Patnaik for stage direction.
The President said the award-winning artistes represent India’s talent, dedication and rich cultural heritage. She said India’s diverse musical traditions, dance forms and folk theatre traditions have enriched the country’s cultural landscape.
Orissa POST – Odisha’s No.1 English Daily