Odia Bhajan Singer Bhikari Mohammad Passes Away

Nayagarh: Well-known Odia bhajan singer Bhikari Mohammad passed away at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack Wednesday night. He was 76.

Bhikari, who had been suffering from paralysis for a ling time, was admitted to SCB after his condition worsened two days ago, according to his family based at Khandapada in Nayagarh district.

Though he was a Muslim, Bhikari has sung several Odia Chhanda, Chaupadi, Janana, Bhajan and the traditional Dhumpa song of Khandapada and earned fame in Odisha and outside. For his ardent devotion to Lord Jagannath, he was known as the second Salabega of Odisha.

He had sung Jagannath bhajans with eminent singers like Bhikari Bal, Akshaya Mohanty, Pranab Patnaik, Prafulla Kar, Chitta Jena and Dibakar Mohanty at several functions.