Bhubaneswar: Odissi vocalist Gopal Chandra Panda and Pala artiste Jagannath Behera were conferred with the prestigious Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja Samman for the years 2021 and 2022 for their contribution to the field of art and culture.
The duo got Rs 5 lakh cash prize each and a memento at the event organised by Odia Language Literature and Culture department and Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi at Rabindra Mandap in Odisha capital on Monday.
Altogether, 16 artists got Akademi Awards for the year 2021 and 15 for 2022. The artists received Rs 2 lakh cash prize each.
Five personalities received Kabichandra Kalicharan Yuva Pratibha Samman for 2021 and as many for 2022. Each of them received Rs 50,000 as cash prize.
Odia Language Literature and Culture & Tourism Minister Aswini Kumar Patra was the chief guest.
