Bhubaneswar: The 31st Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra (GKCM) Award Festival 2025, organized by Srjan, concluded on a high note at Rabindra Mandap, celebrating the rich heritage of Indian classical arts.
The five-day cultural extravaganza, a fitting tribute to the legendary Odissi Guru, featured a diverse array of performances and honored outstanding artists for their contributions.
The festival’s final evening was graced by distinguished guests, including Shri Pankaj Lochan Mohanty, Chairman-cum-Managing Director of MGM Minerals Limited, and Shri Prasanta Nanda, Former Member of Rajya Sabha.
A connoisseur of art and culture, Shri Mohanty lauded Srjan’s relentless pursuit of artistic excellence, while Shri Nanda fondly recalled Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra’s immense dedication to Odisha’s art and culture.
Srjan’s Director, Guru Ratikant Mohapatra, welcomed the guests and audiences, highlighting the festival’s role in preserving and promoting India’s timeless artistic traditions.
The highlight of the concluding ceremony was the presentation of the coveted Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award 2025 to two veterans of the Odissi universe: Smt. Madhavi Mudgal, a distinguished Odissi dancer, Guru, and Padma Shri awardee and Shri Alekh Chandra Samal, an eminent Odissi vocalist and music educator.
Each was conferred with a prestigious sum of ₹1 lakh and a citation for their lifetime contributions.
In a move to recognize and encourage emerging talent, the Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Yuva Pratibha Samman 2025 was awarded to two promising artists under the age of 40: Smt. Shatabdi Mallick for Odissi dance and Shri Muralidhar Swain for Odissi music. They were honored with a cash award of ₹25,000 and a citation.
The festival’s journey, which began with a captivating mother-daughter Odissi duet by Smt. Sujata Mohapatra and Sushree Preetisha Mohapatra, culminated with a powerful and memorable performance of Duryodhana by the Srjan ensemble, bringing the celebrated event to a jubilant close.