Lokanath Das

🪔 About

Lokanath Das, a distinguished exponent of Mayurbhanj Chhau dance, was born on July 12, 1981, in Baripada, Mayurbhanj district, Odisha, India. His initial foray into this vibrant Indian classical dance form began under the tutelage of his grandfather, Ramesh Chandra Das. Furthering his expertise, he joined the Sangeet Natak Akademi's Project of Support to Chhau dances in Baripada, where he specialized in the art form. He also received advanced training from several esteemed gurus, including Shiba Prasad Das, Ganeswar Kuanrbabu, Sundar Mohan Naik, Srihari Nayak, and Madan Mohan Lenka. Throughout his career, Lokanath Das has showcased his talent on numerous prestigious platforms, performing at significant dance festivals across India such as Kargil Utsav, Nritya Pratibha, Chhau Parva, and Nritya Sanrachna, all organized by the Sangeet Natak Akademi. He has also graced stages at the Ganga Mahotsav in Varanasi, Shilpagram Mahotsav in Udaipur, Goa Festival, National Yuva Utsav in Bhopal, and Basant Utsav in Gurgaon. His artistry has garnered international acclaim, leading him to perform in various countries, including Bangladesh in 2004, Sri Lanka in 2005, Kazakhstan in 2009, and Ethiopia in 2011. In recognition of his notable talent in Chhau dance, Lokanath Das was awarded the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar by the Sangeet Natak Akademi for the year 2013-2014. Additionally, he is a recipient of a National Fellowship from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, for his research on Mayurbhanj Chhau dance. Currently, he is actively involved in imparting training in Chhau dance to young dancers at the Sangeet Natak Akademi's Chhau Project in Baripada, contributing to the preservation and promotion of this traditional art form. Awards & Honours: Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar (2013), National Fellowship for research on Mayurbhanj Chhau dance.