Eminent Odishi dance guru Ratikant Mohapatra received the prestigious Bhajan Samrat Bhikari Bal Award for 2017 during thecelebration of 32nd Nataraj Kumarotsav held here on Thursday.
Besides, internationally reputed dramatist and founder of Natya Chetana, Subodh Patnaik and playback singer T Sauri also received Nataraj Natya Samman and Nataraj Sangeet Samman respectively.
The Nataraj Kumarotsav 2017 was jointly organised by the Nataraj Sanget Mahavidyalaya, the Dhenkanal Journalist Association and the District Council of Culture in collaboration with the Department of Culture of the State and Central Governments.
The cultural meet was inaugurated by Minister of Transport and Commerce Dr Nrusingh Charan Sahu. Among others, district Collector Bhupinder Singh Punia and State Cooperative Bank president Akhaya Kumar Mohanty spoke. Nirada Nanda presided while Protima Sinha offered vote of thanks. Engineer Ashok Dash read annual report. Successful competitors of Odishi dance, vocal, fine arts, light vocal and fancy dress competition received prizes.A dance drama on the life of Bhima Bhoi and Mahima cult ‘Jagat Udhar Heu’ kept the audience spellbound.