Odissi dancer, vocalist receive award

Bhubaneswar: The 31st Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award was bestowed upon two luminaries of the Odissi art form in a glittering ceremony on Tuesday. Distinguished Odissi dancer and Padma Shri awardee Madhavi Mudgal, along with eminent Odissi vocalist and music educator Alekh Chandra Samal, were honoured for their lifetime contributions to classical arts. Each received a cash prize of Rs 1,00,000 and a citation.The five-day Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra (GKCM) Award Festival, organised by Srjan — the Odissi institute set up by Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra — celebrated over three decades of artistic excellence with a series of captivating performances and a prestigious award ceremony. The festival also recognised emerging talent with the Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Yuva Pratibha Samman 2025. Odissi dancer Shatabdi Mallick was honoured for excellence in Odissi dance, while Muralidhar Swain was recognised for Odissi music.