'Yuga Gandharva’ award is presented to Lucky Prajna Pratisthita Mohanty, Saswat Joshi and Pravat Kumar Swain

On the fifteenth death anniversary of the Legendary Odissi Maestro - Pathmasree Guru Pankaj Charan Das, ‘Yuga Gandharva’ award, instituted by 'Guru Pankaj Das Odissi Research Foundation', is presented to Sri Lucky Prajna Pratisthita Mohanty, Sri Saswat Joshi and Sri Pravat Kumar Swain, three high-spirited and effervescent young male dancers. In a function carried out at Bhanja Kala Mandap, Bhubaneswar on 11th June 2018, Padmashree Kumkum Mohanty, Sri Antaryami Mishra and Sri Shantanu Prusty handed over the awards to them. Sri Sarat Das, Director & CEO of the 'Guru Pankaj Das Odissi Research Foundation' was present.

Guru Sri Pankaj Charan Das, the Aadi Guru of Odissi dance, was the one who took Odissi out of the Temples boundaries. He was awarded Pathmasree in 1992 by Govt. of India for his valuable contributions to the artform.

In the performance slot after the award ceremony, Lucky Mohanty presented ‘Saja kanja nayana…’, a poem by Sri B.C. Pujapanda. It was choreographed by Sri. Kumkum Mohanty. Pravat Swain performed Odiya poet Pathmasree Mayadhar Mansingh's 'Bar badhu…' choreographed by Smt. Aruna Mohanty and Saswat Joshi performed ‘Rasa panchaka…’ abhinaya. This is originally composed by Adi Guru Sree Pankaj Charan Das, reoriented by Sri Sarat Das.

Photo Credit of award ceremony : 'Guru Pankaj Das Odissi Research Foundation'

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