Bhagabat Padhan
A guru of Sabda Nrutya, a mythological dance form of western Odisha, who has trained more than 600 artists since 1974, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2024.
Bhagabat Padhan is a guru of Sabda Nrutya, an old dance form from western Odisha based on mythological stories. He was named for the Padma Shri in 2024 in the field of art, from Odisha [1].
Leaving a job for dance
He was born on 24 June 1938 [2]. After Class 7 he got a government job as a teacher, but he gave it up to follow his love of the arts [2]. He joined the Brajeswari Nrutya Kala Sansad, a cultural institution in Kumbhari village, Bargarh district, that dates back to 1850 [2].
Guru
In 1974 he became the institution’s Sabda Nrutya guru, a role he has held ever since [2]. He has trained more than 600 artists, in Bargarh and in other districts, and is known across the region as “Bhaga Mastre” [2].
Scholars, Odissi dancers and researchers, as well as visiting artists from countries such as Italy, Germany, Japan and the USA, have come to Kumbhari to learn about the dance [2]. Through his students it has spread across Odisha and beyond [2].
Sources
- [1] Padma Awards 2024: list of awardees — Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Accessed 15 October 2026.
- [2] Padma Awards 2024: citation for Bhagabat Padhan — Padma Awards, Government of India. Accessed 15 October 2026.
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