39th Swanakshatra Festival of 'Priyapatra' Held: Radhashyam Roul Receives Rasraj Emar Care Award
Balasore, Feb 15 (Krushna Kumar Mohanty): The 39th Swanakshatra Festival of 'Priyapatra' was held at the premises of the Odisha Sangeet Parishad in Puri, under the chairmanship of Dr Hemant Kumar Chhotaray.
The festival was graced by Dr Kailas Chandra Tikayatray, the first Director of the Odia Bhasa Pratisthan, as the chief guest.
Distinguished guests included Biswaprakash Pattnaik, Bijayalakshmi Dash Mishra, Gouranga Parida, Santosh Kumar Sethi, and the Deputy Director of the Information and Public Relations Department. The speakers highlighted Priyapatra’s sustained contribution to Odia literature and literary service.
As part of the annual honours, Renuka Mishra and Avaneesh Rath received the Priyapatra Juglabandi Award, Rashmiranjita Singh was conferred the Priyapatra Award, Dr Kshirabdhi Tanaya Sahu received the Adhyapak Sarojakanta Tripathy Memorial Award, while Pitambar Mohapatra was honoured with the Raghunath Mohapatra Memorial Award.
Pratibha Dash received the Shakuntala Dalai Memorial Award.
The Rasraj Emar Care Memorial Award was presented to Radhashyam Roul. Brahmananda Panigrahi received the Shatrughna Mahanti Memorial Award, Maheswar Jena the Ramachandra Dalai Memorial Award, and Lingaraj Das the Subala Das Memorial Award.
The Balabhadra Das Memorial Award for Distinguished Translation was conferred on Prabhakar Rath and Ganeswar Praharaj. Jogeswar Nayak received the Gangadhar Mishra Memorial Award for Humanist Progressive Writing.
During the festival, books authored by awardees were released by the guests, including Ganita Taranga by Pitambar Mohapatra, the poetry collection Bhababodhini by Bipin Bihari Dalai, and Kusumanjali by Nilakantha Mishra. At the outset, editor Bipin Bihari Dalai welcomed the guests and delivered the editorial address.
The opening session featured a state-level poetry recitation coordinated by Lakshmipriya Dash, Prabasini Mishra, and Madhusmita Mishra, with more than fifty poets presenting their original works.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Krishna Mohapatra. The festival was conducted by Madhab Sreenandan Sahu, Avinash Dalai, Rajat Mahanti, Bimala Krishna Das, Sarbagila, and Debadatta Biswaranjan Mishra.
