Bhubaneswar: The prestigious Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award 2026 will be conferred upon Odissi dance exponent Smt. Sharon Lowen, eminent Odissi vocalist Keshab Chandra Rout, noted theatre personality Dhirendranath Mallick, and celebrated actress Smt. Mahasweta Ray for their lifetime achievements and immense contributions to their respective fields.
The announcement was made by Guru Ratikant Mohapatra, Director of Srjan, at a press conference in Bhubaneswar on Friday.
Organised by Srjan, Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Odissi Nrityabasa, in collaboration with Sri Sri University, the 32nd festival will be held from September 5 to 9, from 7.00 PM onwards at Rabindra Mandap, Bhubaneswar.
The felicitation ceremony will take place on the concluding evening.
Each recipient of the Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award will receive Rs1 lakh and a citation.
Adding another feather to the festival’s cap, the Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Kala Samman in its second year of institution, will be presented to violinist Agnimitra Behera and vocalist Sushree Nazia Alam. Each award carries Rs50,000 and a citation.
Similarly, Odissi dancers Sushree Vrinda Chadha and Sushree Aishwariya Singhdev, Kathak dancer Sushree Nikita Banawalikar and Mardala player Soumya Ranjan Nayak will receive the Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Yuva Pratibha Samman. Each recipient will receive Rs25,000 and a citation, recognising their promise and contribution to the performing arts.
The festival will open on September 5 with a Hindustani vocal recital by Vidushi Shubha Mudgal, accompanied by Dr. Aneesh Pradhan on Tabla and Sudhir Nayak on Harmonium.
On September 6, celebrated sarod maestro Pt. Tejendra Narayan Majumdar, accompanied by Satyajit Talwalkar on Tabla, will present a Sarod recital, followed by an Odissi performance by Smt. Lipsa Satapathy.
The September 7 evening presents Mārgānātya, a choreographed play titled “Saugandhika Haranam” by Chidākāsh Kalālay Centre, choreographed by Dr. Piyal Bhattacharya, with music by Sayak Mitra.
On September 8, acclaimed Bharatanatyam exponent Dr. Janaki Rangarajan takes the stage, followed by a Flute Jugalbandi featuring Abhiram Nanda and Shri Srinibas Satapathy, accompanied by Yashwant Vaishnav on Tabla.
The festival culminates on September 9 with the Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award Ceremony 2026, followed by the much-awaited, show-stopping finale by the Srjan Ensemble.
The ensemble will present “Māti”, inspired by the evocative poem of iconic Odia poet Radha Mohan Gadanayak. Choreographed by Guru Ratikant Mohapatra, with music composed by Guru Lakshmikant Palit and script adaptation by the late Jaydev Das, “Māti” retains the distinct character and vocabulary of traditional Odissi choreography while embracing creative novelty.
Enhanced by unique visual embellishments and imaginative choreographic treatment, the production seeks to create a compelling aesthetic experience.
