In recognition of their exceptional accomplishments, the Sangeet Natak Akademi has chosen dancer Mingma D. Lepcha and well-known singer Dr. Manoj Rai from Sikkim to participate in the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar. The award honors outstanding young talent in the performing arts, including dance, theater, and music. The prize will be presented to the pair on November 22 at a ceremony in New Delhi.
Through their contributions, Lepcha, renowned for her proficiency in traditional dance forms, and Dr. Rai, famed for his lyrical renditions, have significantly elevated Sikkim’s cultural environment. The Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar was established in 2006 and is given to deserving practitioners under 40 every year. Up to 33 performers in five categories—music, dance, theater, folk and tribal arts, and scholarly contributions to performing arts—are honored annually by the Akademi.