Utkalika honours eminent artistes at Acharya Tarini Charan Patra awards ceremony

BHUBANESWAR: Eminent exponents of Odissi music, Sanskrit and Odia literature, and folk arts were honoured at the Acharya Tarini Charan Patra Samman Utsav–2026, organised by Utkalika, a cultural and dance institution of Odisha, at the Regional Science Centre auditorium in Bhubaneswar on Friday.

Pandit Arttatrana Satapathy was conferred the Acharya Tarini Charan Patra Samman–2026 for his contribution to Odissi music, Pandit Dukhishyam Pattnaik for Sanskrit and Odia literature, and Pandit Upendra Panigrahi for his work in folk arts.

Jagannath Rath was selected for the Acharya Tarini Charan Patra Yuva Pratibha Samman–2026 for his contribution to Sanskrit and Odia literature, while Sitakanta Jena received the award for mardala playing. Eminent Pala singer Guru Amarendra Pattnaik was conferred the Utkalika Samman–2026.

The event brought together artistes from Odisha and other parts of the country, who showcased their talents through dance and musical performances.

Guru Dr Geeta Behera presented Odissi music, while students of the Utkalika dance institution entertained the audience with various dance and musical performances.
The annual festival has been organised by Utkalika founder and head Sekhar Suman Majhi since 2014 to promote Odisha’s art, culture and dance traditions and encourage emerging talent.

The event also seeks to preserve the legacy of Acharya Tarini Charan Patra, an eminent classical musician and Ashtavadhani, and keep his contributions to the arts alive for future generations.

The festival serves as a platform to recognise distinguished practitioners of Odisha’s rich artistic and classical traditions while fostering an appreciation of the state’s cultural heritage among younger generations.