Minister for Language, Culture, and Tourism Jupally Krishna Rao stated that everyone has a responsibility to pass down cultural glory to future generations. The Nataraja Ramakrishna National Dance Festival was grandly organized on Wednesday evening in the main auditorium of Ravindra Bharathi by the Loka Arts Academy, Hyderabad, with the patronage of the Telangana Department of Language and Culture and the cooperation of SMS Group Chairperson Jupally Manjula Rao. The national dance festival was led by Dr. Kala Krishna.
Minister Jupally Krishna Rao attended the event as the chief guest and inaugurated it by lighting the ceremonial lamp alongside Department of Language and Culture Director Dr. Enugu Narsimha Reddy, Pharmaceutical Council of India Director Raju Bhanu, Telangana Income Tax Additional Commissioner Shankar Pandi, Vamsi Ram Builders CMD Badvelu Subba Reddy, and Narasimha Reddy Engineering College Secretary and Correspondent Jakkula Trishul Reddy.
On this occasion, the Nataraja Ramakrishna Lifetime Achievement Award-2026 was presented to prominent Odissi danseuse Guru Sujatha Mohapatra. Additionally, the Padma Shri Nataraja Ramakrishna National Awards-2026 were presented to Sampradayam Cultural Trust Director Swati Somanath (Andhra Pradesh), Dr. Perini Kumar (Telangana), Kathak exponent Sanjay Joshi (Telangana), Kuchipudi exponent Jwalamukhi Pinna (Telangana), Andhra Natyam artists Geetha Hazare (Malaysia), Sanjay Vadapalli (Hong Kong), and Haritha Kanagala (Telugu states/Telangana), Odissi dancer Debashree Patnaik (Telangana), and Perini Satish (Telangana).
Speaking at the event, speakers noted that Indian classical music and dance arts serve as an inspiration to the world. Minister Jupally Krishna Rao stated that everyone bears the responsibility of passing down cultural glory to future generations without forgetting Indian roots. He appreciated Loka Arts Academy for preserving Indian culture and traditions.
Earlier, the Andhra Natyam performance by Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee Dr. Kala Krishna, Mohiniyattam by Chitra Sukumaran from Kerala, and a Perini dance performance by Sirajuddin greatly captivated the audience.
The event was attended by Jupally Manjula, Festival Chairman B.R. Vikram Kumar, Loka Arts Director Chandrasekhar Reddy, CDFO National Secretary Sai Venkatesh, member Jagapati Jana from Odisha, Dr. Sajini Vallabhaneni, and several dance gurus.
