The Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi has presented awards totalling over Rs 2.5 crore to 134 distinguished artistes in recognition of their significant contributions to enriching the state’s art and culture, an official statement said on Thursday.
The awards, presented at a function n Bhubaneswar on Wednesday, covered three years beginning in 2023.
Six of 134 artistes were conferred with the prestigious Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja Samman, the highest recognition of the institution, at a function held on Wednesday, the notification said.
ଆଜି ଲୋକସେବା ଭବନରେ ୨୦୨୩, ୨୦୨୪ ଓ ୨୦୨୫ ବର୍ଷ ପାଇଁ ‘କବି ସମ୍ରାଟ ଉପେନ୍ଦ୍ର ଭଞ୍ଜ ସମ୍ମାନ, ଓଡ଼ିଶା ସଙ୍ଗୀତ ନାଟକ ଏକାଡେମୀ ପୁରସ୍କାର, ଉପାୟନ ଓ କବିଚନ୍ଦ୍ର କାଳୀଚରଣ ଯୁବ ପ୍ରତିଭା ସମ୍ମାନ’ ବିତରଣ ଉତ୍ସବ ଅନୁଷ୍ଠିତ ହୋଇଛି । pic.twitter.com/o1f49PeaK8
— Suryabanshi Suraj (@suryabanshibjp) November 26, 2025
For the Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja Samman, the awardees were Dr Pranab Kishore Pattnayak, Badal Shikdar (2023), Mohini Mohan Pattnayak, Sudhakar Sahu (2024), Ghanshyam Panda, Bhagabat Pradhan (2025).
Each received Rs 5 lakh, while each awardee under Hindustani Vocal Music got Rs 2.5 lakh.
Every Upayana awardee received Rs 1 lakh, and those who were honoured with Kabichandra Kalicharan Yuva Pratibha Samman got Rs 50,000 each, according to the Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi, under the state culture department.
“In total, awards worth over Rs 2.5 crore were distributed among the 134 distinguished artistes,” the statement said.
State Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj said, “Their contribution has enriched Odisha’s art and culture, making them eternally revered. I am confident that they will continue to carry the essence of Odisha’s cultural heritage to global heights.”
“I want to express my happiness. The Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi awards for the past years 2023, 2024, and 2025 were presented today. Along with the lifetime achievement awards, emerging talents and young artists were also honored at the ceremony…,” Suraj said speaking to news agency IANS.
