Manipur Governor Dr Najma Heptulla on Monday conferred the Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar, 2018 to the two awardees of State.
Manju Elangbam received the award in the field of Manipuri Dance and A Aneshori Devi received this Yuva Puraskar in the field of Traditional & Folk Dance.
Attending the award distribution ceremony at the guest house of Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy, Imphal on Monday, Governor Dr Heptulla expressed confidence that many more young talented artistes from the State will earn name and awards in different fields in the years to come and her best wishes will always be with them.
Stating that dance and music symbolizing joys and jubilation of generations hold the imprints of their long social and cultural history and tradition, she said artistes of every generation have interpreted them and further enriched the tradition.
We must ensure the survival of our traditional art, our dance forms and our music. We should encourage our youth to keep these skills and creativity alive and robust, she added.
Chairman Shekhar Sen and secretary Rita Swami Choudhary of Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi attended the award ceremony function.
The Ustad Bismallah Khan Yuva Puraskar 2018 was awarded to 32 recipients in four different categories.
The ‘Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar’ was instituted by the Sangeet Natak Akademi in the year 2006 to be awarded annually to young and upcoming artistes who have demonstrated notable talent in the fields of music, dance and drama.
The award is conferred upon artistes below the age of 40 years giving them national recognition early in their life so that they may work with greater commitment and dedication in their chosen fields.