Danseuse Aruna Mohanty Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

Aruna Mohanty receiving the award at Rabindra Mandap in Bhubaneswar on Sunday, Photograph: Odishabytes

Bhubaneswar: Eminent Odissi danseuse Aruna Mohanty received a lifetime achievement award for her contribution to Odissi dance at Rabindra Mandap here on Sunday.

The award, instituted by Dr Dash Foundation, USA, was conferred on Mohanty during the first international conference on Lord Jagannath Sanskruti. Puri Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb gave away the award, which includes a citation and Rs 1.5 lakh in cash.

“I feel this is a blessing of Lord Jagannath and it has been possible because of the love of my well wishers. Dr Dash Foundation has been working on Jagannath culture in USA for several years. I am glad to receive the award from them. Odissi dance is a part of Jagannath culture and receiving the award from the Puri Gajapati was indeed an honour,” said Mohanty, a recipient of Padma Shri in 2017.

Defying stereotypical performances, Mohanty has believed in expanding the dance form through innovations and stagecraft. “There is so much left to do for the dance and our culture,” she added.