Jaipur, October 1: The ‘Gulabo Padma Shri Mahotsav-2026’, organised by the Gulabo Sapera Dance and Music Institute, showcased the vibrant folk art and cultural heritage of Rajasthan at the Rajasthan International Centre, Jaipur, on Thursday. The event was organised under the joint aegis of Gangaur Television.
The programme was attended by MP Manju Sharma, Sach Bedhadak Media Group CMD Pawan Arora, MLAs Gopal Sharma and Balmukund Acharya, along with Sunny Kapoor, Shivkanta Pandey and several other dignitaries.
As part of ‘Lok Kala Ratna Samman Season-3’, 51 folk artists were honoured for their significant contribution to folk art and culture. Seven distinguished personalities who have made long-standing contributions to the field were also presented with Lifetime Achievement Awards.
The Lifetime Achievement Award recipients included Padma Bhushan Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Padma Shri Ustad Anwar Khan Manganiyar, Padma Shri Taga Ram Bheel, Dr Nirmala Sewani, Hawa Singh Nath, TT Robin, Lalchand and Gopal Singh Rathore.
Gulabo Sapera’s Kalbelia Performance Draws Applause
Padma Shri Gulabo Sapera presented a vibrant Kalbelia dance performance with her troupe. The audience applauded the performance enthusiastically. Artists TT Robin and Deenu Banjara, who travelled from France, also entertained the audience with their special performances. A traditional been (snake-charmer flute) performance was another highlight of the evening.
Rajasthan’s Heritage Showcased Through Fashion
A special fashion show celebrating Rajasthan’s folk culture and traditional heritage was also organised during the festival. Presented by Ladesar with the support of Lucky Rajnath Rawat, the show featured a collection inspired by Rajasthan’s cultural traditions.
The collection included various saree styles and traditional outfits. Young Kalbelia dancers from Roopa Sapera’s troupe also showcased traditional Kalbelia costumes through a special performance.
Padma Shri Gulabo Sapera said the objective of the festival was to provide a platform, recognition and honour to folk artists who have spent years taking Indian folk culture to audiences across the country and abroad. She said the Lok Kala Ratna Samman initiative aims to preserve and promote folk arts and pass Rajasthan’s traditional cultural heritage on to the younger generation.
Rajasthan International Centre joined the event as the venue partner. Kamla Poddar Group, Trans Events, Radio City, Simply Jaipur Magazine, Arena Animation, Elite Miss Rajasthan, Arya Group of Colleges, Golden Divine Creation and SGM Outdoor, among other organisations and partners, also supported the event.