Bhubaneswar, Aug 8 (UDN): Odisha’s long-standing handicraft tradition received a major national recognition as Ram Meher of Bargarh and Prafulla Kumar Sahu of Jagatsinghpur were honoured with the Sant Kabir Handicrafts Award-2025 and National Handicrafts Award-2025, respectively.
ଜାତୀୟ ହସ୍ତତନ୍ତ ଦିବସ ଅବସରରେ ମାନ୍ୟବର ରାଷ୍ଟ୍ରପତି ଶ୍ରୀମତୀ ଦ୍ରୌପଦୀ ମୁର୍ମୁଙ୍କ ଦ୍ୱାରା ‘ସନ୍ଥ କବୀର ହସ୍ତତନ୍ତ ପୁରସ୍କାର-୨୦୨୫’ ଓ ‘ଜାତୀୟ ହସ୍ତତନ୍ତ ପୁରସ୍କାର-୨୦୨୫’ରେ ସମ୍ମାନିତ ହୋଇଥିବା ବରଗଡ଼ର ଶ୍ରୀ ରାମ ମେହେର ଏବଂ ଜଗତସିଂହପୁରର ଶ୍ରୀ ପ୍ରଫୁଲ୍ଲ କୁମାର ସାହୁଙ୍କୁ ହାର୍ଦ୍ଦିକ ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା ଓ ଅଭିନନ୍ଦନ।
ଆପଣମାନଙ୍କର… pic.twitter.com/p1SEvBhY5M
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) August 7, 2026
The awards were presented by President Droupadi Murmu, recognising the artisans’ exceptional craftsmanship, creativity and dedication to preserving India’s traditional handicrafts.
The recognition is a significant achievement for Odisha’s artisan community, where traditional skills have been passed down through generations and remain closely connected to the state’s cultural identity.
The two artisans’ success also highlights the wider contribution of handicrafts to rural livelihoods. For thousands of craftspeople across Odisha, traditional crafts are not only a form of cultural expression but also an important source of household income.
National recognition can help bring greater visibility to regional crafts, open up new markets and encourage younger generations to take up traditional skills. It can also strengthen opportunities for artisans through better market access, design development and promotion.
The honours for Meher and Sahu have therefore added another proud chapter to Odisha’s handicraft story, showcasing the skill and creativity of its artisans on a national platform.
Their achievement is also a reminder of the importance of preserving traditional craftsmanship while creating sustainable economic opportunities for the communities that keep these art forms alive.
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