Noted Odia writer Manoj Kumar Panda will get the 36th edition of prestigious Sarala Award for his story book Maya Bagicha and overall literary achievements. The Sarala Award Committee announced this here on Wednesday. Panda will receive a cash award of `5 lakh along with a citation.
Two more notable personalities of Odisha will be honoured for their valuable contributions in the field of music and art. Bhimsen Satpathy will be awarded the Ila Panda Memorial Music Samman and D Narayan Rao the Ila Panda Memorial Art Samman. They will receive a cash award of `150 lakh each along with citations.
A special function will be held on October 26 to felicitate Panda along with the other awardees. Eminent Indian writer Mridula Garg will be the chief guest of the function.
The annual Sarala Award was instituted in 1979 by the Indian Metals Public Charitable Trust (IMPaCT), the charitable wing of the IMFA Group.