President of India Droupadi Murmu today conferred the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowships and Awards for 2024 and 2025 upon eminent performing artists at a ceremony in New Delhi.
Speaking on the occasion, the President said the awardees collectively represent a cultural map of India, woven with stories, songs, dances, and festivals that embody the nation’s diversity. She emphasised that Indian art forms draw inspiration from nature — birds, waterfalls, rivers, and forests — reflecting unity in diversity.
Highlighting the importance of the Guru‑Shishya tradition, she urged senior artists to mentor the next generation and preserve folk art forms facing extinction. She praised the Akademi’s ‘Kala‑Diksha’ program, which documents and sustains endangered traditions.
The President described folk and tribal arts as vital foundations of India’s cultural identity, expressing confidence that the Sangeet Natak Akademi will continue to enrich the world with India’s cultural energy as a centre of soft power.
