SRINAGAR, JUN 11 (KNS) : Noted folk theatre artist Rayees Wathori, widely known by his stage name, has been selected for the prestigious Ustad Bismillah Khan Puraskar for the year 2025, the Sangeet Natak Akademi announced on Thursday.
The award, instituted by the Sangeet Natak Akademi under the Ministry of Culture, is among India's foremost national honours recognising outstanding young performing artists.
Wathori, a prominent face from the Kashmir region, has been chosen in the Folk Theatre category for his sustained contribution to the preservation and promotion of traditional performing arts, officials said.
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His efforts to keep folk theatre vibrant and relevant have earned him national acclaim, they added.
The announcement has been widely welcomed by the artistic fraternity, with many hailing it as a proud moment for the folk theatre community of the region. (KNS)