Jeypore , Dec, 05: Two artists from Jaypur city have been honored by the Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi. Kahnu Charan was recognized for his lifelong contribution to teaching Odissi dance in Koraput district, while Lingaraj Nishank was honored for his work in folk art and Sankirtan.
The awards were presented during an independent program held at the Lok Seva Bhavan in Bhubaneswar. The event was attended by Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, MLA Siddhanta Mahapatra, Babu Singh, Akash Das Nayak, Divisional Secretary Dr. Vijay Ketan Upadhyay, Secretary of Independent Governance Devprasad Das, and Secretary of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Dr. Chandrashekhar Hota, who felicitated the artists.
Both artists were honored with plaques, shawls, and a cash award of ₹1 lakh as part of the Upayan-2025 program.
Lingaraj Nishank has been organizing religious Sankirtan teams in various parts of Koraput district and conducting the traditional Ashtaprahari Yajna rituals. He has also adapted folk dramas into radio plays and broadcast them through the All India Radio, Jaypur center. He is an All India award-winning artist with over 60 years of experience in composing, singing, and performing Sankirtan.
Kahnu Charan has established the Jaypur Kalakendra, where he has trained thousands of students in Odissi dance. He is also a recognized classical vocalist and music composer at All India Radio, Jaypur, and has provided opportunities for young talents from the state and beyond to learn dance. His work significantly contributes to the promotion and preservation of Koraput’s folk culture.