BAGS BEST CULTURAL INSTITUTION AWARD
PANAJI: Shantadurga Cultural Association, Kumbarjua, has been recognized as the best cultural institution for the year 2024-25 in Goa. This announcement was made by the Directorate of Art & Culture, which will also honour twelve distinguished individuals in the realm of art and culture by presenting the esteemed ‘Goa State Cultural Award’ in acknowledgment of their contributions and accomplishments across various disciplines, including music, drama/tiatr, folk art, bhajan, kirtan, craft, literature, and painting.
The recipients of the Goa State Cultural Awards in music include Damodar K Shevde from Pernem and Agostinho Francisco Xavier Joao Da Cruz from Salcete. In the category of bhajan/drama, Suresh A Bandekar from Pernem has been recognized. Vivek L Joshi from Sattari is the awardee in the kirtan category. Anand T Amonkar and Gurudas K Gaonkar, both from Bicholim, have been honored in the bhajan category. Gajanan G Naik from Dharbandora and Amrutrao R Bhosale from Tiswadi are the recipients in the drama category. Sharon Mazarello from Salcete has been awarded in the tiatr category, while Suhasini V Naik from Ponda has been recognized for her contributions to folk art.
In literature, Nayana Adarkar and Laxman K Pitre from Tiswadi taluka are the awardees of the Goa State Cultural Award.
The Goa State Cultural Awards include a cash prize of Rs 1,00,000 for each individual awardee, along with a shrifal, shawl, certificate, and a Nataraj replica. The award for the Best Cultural Institution consists of a memento and a cash prize of Rs 3 lakh. The awards for both individuals and the Best Cultural Institution will be presented at a special ceremony organized by the department.