Bhubaneswar, Aug 28: Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Odissi Nrityabasa, in collaboration with Sri Sri University, is all set to host the 32nd edition of the Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award Festival from 5th to 9th September 2026, from 7:00 p.m. onwards at Rabindra Mandap, Bhubaneswar. Significantly, the 32nd GKCM Award Festival will be held during the Birth Centenary Year Celebration of Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, lending this edition a special commemorative significance. One of Odisha’s most prestigious annual cultural celebrations, the five-day festival honours the enduring legacy of Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra while bringing together some of India’s finest exponents of classical dance, music, theatre, and cinema. The festival is thoughtfully curated under the able guidance of renowned Guru and artiste Guru Ratikant Mohapatra, Director, Srjan, and Dean, Faculty of Arts, Communication and Indic Studies, Sri Sri University, whose artistic vision continues to uphold the festival’s commitment to excellence, tradition, and innovation since last 31 years.
The Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award Awards 2026 will be presented to four iconic figures representing India’s diverse cultural milieu. Carrying a cash award of ₹1,00,000 and a citation, the honour will be conferred upon veteran artistes Smt. Sharon Lowen, Shri Keshab Chandra Rout, Shri Dhirendranath Mallick , and Smt. Mahasweta Ray for their lifetime achievements and immense contributions to their respective fields. In its second year of institution, the Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Kala Samman 2026, instituted for accomplished artistes aged 40–55 years, will honour Shri Agnimitra Behera and Sushree Nazia Alam with ₹50,000 and a citation each. The Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Yuva Pratibha Samman, carrying ₹25,000 and a citation, will recognise four promising artistes— Sushree Vrinda Chadha and Sushree Aishwariya Singhdev, Sushree Nikita Banawalikar, and Shri Soumya Ranjan Nayak.
The festival opens on 5th September with a Hindustani vocal recital by Vidushi Shubha Mudgal, accompanied by Dr. Aneesh Pradhan on Tabla and Shri Sudhir Nayak on Harmonium. On 6th September, celebrated sarod maestro Pt. Tejendra Narayan Majumdar, accompanied by Shri Satyajit Talwalkar on Tabla, will present a Sarod recital, followed by an Odissi performance by Smt. Lipsa Satapathy. The 7th September evening presents Mārgānātya, a choreographed play titled “Saugandhika Haranam” by Chidākāsh Kalālay Centre, choreographed by Dr. Piyal Bhattacharya, with music by Shri Sayak Mitra. On 8th September, acclaimed Bharatanatyam exponent Dr. Janaki Rangarajan takes the stage, followed by a Flute Jugalbandi featuring Shri Abhiram Nanda and Shri Srinibas Satapathy, accompanied by Shri Yashwant Vaishnav on Tabla.
The festival culminates on 9th September with the Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award Ceremony 2026, followed by the much-awaited, show-stopping finale by the Srjan Ensemble. The ensemble will present “Māti,” inspired by the evocative poem of iconic Odia poet Radha Mohan Gadanayak. Choreographed by Guru Ratikant Mohapatra, with music composed by Guru Lakshmikant Palit and script adaptation by the late Jaydev Das, Māti retains the distinct character and vocabulary of traditional Odissi choreography while embracing creative novelty. Enhanced by unique visual embellishments and imaginative choreographic treatment, the production seeks to create a compelling aesthetic experience.
The 32nd Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award Festival is supported by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and the Department of Odia Language, Literature & Culture, Government of Odisha. MGM Minerals Ltd. and Shalimar Chemical Works Pvt. Ltd. extend their support under CSR initiatives. The Gold Sponsors are Odisha Mining Corporation Ltd.and Odisha Tourism, while Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is the Silver Sponsor. NALCO, MCL, IMFA, and Priyadarshini are the Festival Sponsors. Dharitri and OrissaPOST join as the Media Partners, The Royale Midtown as the Hospitality Partner, and Narthaki as the Web Partner.
