The Vice-President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar, is set to confer the one-time Sangeet Natak Akademi Amrit Awards as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. These awards will be presented to 84 artists from the performing arts field of India who are above 75 years of age and have not yet received any national honors in their careers.
Chairman of Sangeet Natak Akademi, Dr. Sandhya Purecha, shared in a press conference that the Sangeet Natak Akademi Amrit Awards are a significant national recognition given to performing artists, teachers, and scholars in the field of performing arts. The awardees are chosen by the Akademi’s General Council, comprising distinguished musicians, dancers, theatre artists, and scholars, along with nominees from the Government of India, State Governments, and Union Territories. Dr. Purecha added that the award carries a prize of Rs. 1,00,000/- (One Lakh Rupees), along with a Tamrapatra (Copper Plaque) and Angavastram.
The ceremony is scheduled to take place on September 16, 2023, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, in the presence of Minister of Law and Justice (Independent Charge) and Minister of State for Culture and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, and Minister of State for Culture and External Affairs, Smt. Meenakashi Lekhi.
Following the award ceremony, a festival of performing arts will be held from September 16th to September 20th, 2023, at 6 p.m. daily at Meghdoot Complex, Sangeet Natak Akademi, located at 35, Feroze Shah Road, New Delhi.
The press conference also saw the presence of Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, Ms. Uma Nanduri, Vice Chairman of Sangeet Natak Akademi, Shri Joravarsinh Jadav, and Secretary, Shri Raju Das.
For the complete list of recipients of Sangeet Natak Akademi Amrit Awards, refer to the provided links:
