Noted Classical Dancer Sonal Mansingh conferred 2023 Sankardeva Award

Eminent classical dancer Dr Sonal Mansingh was conferred the 2023 Srimanta Sankaradeva Award by the Assam Governor Laxmanacharya in a function in Guwahati, Assam, on 12 June 2025. Initially, President Droupadi Mumru was to present the award to Dr Sonal Mansingh on 22 April 2025, but it was postponed due to the Pahalagam terror attack.

Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, was present on the occasion.

Dr Sonal Mansingh was honoured for her immense contribution to Indian classical dance, social reform and for cultural advocacy.

About the  Srimanta Sankaradeva Award 

Assam government instituted the Srimanta Sankaradeva Award in 1986. 

It is a national level award and it  given to an individuals who symbolises the values of  Srimanta Sankardeva through their contributions to art, culture, and society.

The awardee is honoured with an Angavastram, a gold medallion, a citation and a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh. The awardee is also honoured with the traditional Assamese bell-metal ‘Xorai’ (a tray).

About Srimanta Sankardeva

The award has been instituted in the memory of the famous Vaishnav Saint Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva.

He is also revered as Gurujona in Assam.

He is considered to be the founder of the Sattriya dance form which was later recognised a  classical dance form by the government of India.

He was the fountainhead of the Ankiya naat, a form of one-act play. 

At the age of 19 years , he staged a dance drama Cihna Yatra . The Cihna Yatra is regarded as one of the first open-air theatrical performances in the world.

He also composed devotional songs, set to music and sung in various raga styles. These devotional songs are known as Borgeets.

About Dr Sonal Mansingh 

Dr Sonal Mansingh is a famous classical dancer of India. She was trained in classical Odissi dance form by renowned exponent Kelucharan Mohapatra.

She is also proficient in classical Bharat Natyam dance and has been trained in Hindustani and Carnatic classical vocal music.

She has also founded Center for Indian Classical Dances in New Delhi to train young dancers in classical Indian dance form.

Award

Padma Vibhushan - India’s second-highest civilian award was conferred on her in 2003.

Padma Bhushan - India's third-highest civilian award was conferred in 1992.

Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1987.