Bhubaneswar: Navratna PSE Nalco has announced its decision to institute an award in memory of Mahari exponent Adi Guru Pankaj Charan Das for preserving and promoting the rich culture of the state.
"As a tribute to the great Mahari exponent late Adi Guru Pankaj Charan Das, Nalco has decided to institute a state-level award as his memorial," Nalco CMD Tapan Kumar Chand said while inaugurating the three-day Guru Pankaj Utsav here yesterday.
The 'Nalco Adi Guru Pankaj Charan Award' shall carry a purse of Rs one lakh, a gold medallion and a citation, which will be handed over to an institution striving to propagate Odissi dance, at the next edition of the Utsav, a company release said today.
On the occasion, noted artistes Guru Keshav Chandra Rout (Binakara), Kalindi Parida (Madeli), Shantilata Barik (Odissi Vocal) and Pushpita Mukherjee (Odissi Dance) were felicitated by Dr Chand for their contributions to the cultural heritage of Odissi and Odisha.
The company had earlier instituted Nalco Kharavela Awards to felicitate Odissi Guru and Odissi Dancer and has also announced scholarships for BPL students learning this art form.