Bhubaneswar, Odisha: The prestigious Pratima Award in the fields of Art and Education returns with its fourth edition in 2026, celebrating individuals and institutions that have made exceptional contributions to education, traditional arts, and cultural preservation—particularly in Odisha. Instituted by the Pratima Foundation, the awards continue to honour meaningful work that bridges tradition, innovation, and social impact.
For the year 2026, the “Pratima Shikshya Samman” award has been conferred upon Srujanika, a pioneering Indian nonprofit organisation founded in 1983 by Nikhil Mohan Pattnaik and Puspashree Pattnaik. Known for its sustained work in research and innovation in science, education, and development, Srujanika has played a vital role in promoting the Odia language. One of its most remarkable initiatives, “Odia Bibhaba”, has focused on digitizing rare and old Odia books and periodicals, making them freely accessible through open-source platforms—an invaluable contribution to knowledge preservation and dissemination.
The “Pratima Shilpi Samman” will be awarded to Bidyadhar Mahanta, a dedicated personality in the field of traditional textiles. Beginning his journey at the young age of 10, Mahanta has dedicated his life to sustaining and promoting the heritage of Kotpad Handloom, one of Odisha’s most unique and culturally rich weaving traditions.
Adding a new dimension this year, the “Pratima Srujan Samman” has been introduced to recognize emerging and established creative talents across diverse fields of art and felicitate them.
Umesh Kumar Mohapatra has been selected for this honour and will be felicitated. This new category aims to encourage innovation, originality, and creative expressions rooted in cultural ethos, while motivating artists to continue their creative pursuits.
The two major awards and the honour will be formally presented at a grand ceremony on Monday, 4th May 2026, at 6:30 PM at Gita Govinda Sadan, Bhubaneswar. The event will bring together eminent personalities from the fields of art, education, literature, culture, and public life. The event will be graced by a distinguished panel of guests, including eminent literary figure and academic Adhyapak Bishwaranjan; noted social worker and former Chairperson of the Odisha State Commission for Women, Lopamudra Mohanty; eminent writer and researcher Dr. Gouranga Charan Dash, young poet and journalist Kedar Mishra; poet and columnist Pabitra Mohan Kar; actress Madhumita Mohanty; and Sumitra Padhi, Managing Trustee of Pratima Foundation.
The evening will feature the award presentations along with a memorial lecture held in fond remembrance of Pratima Devi. Each award and felicitation will carries a citation & memento as a mark of recognition. The Pratima Shikshya Samman and Pratima Shilpi Samman will additionally include a cash prize, acknowledging the depth of contribution and impact of the awardees.
With each passing year, the Pratima Award Festival continues to grow as a meaningful platform that not only honours excellence but also inspires future generations to engage deeply with art, education, and cultural heritage.
