Gangtok, Oct 19: Sikkim’s folk dancer Dilu Tamang and theatre artist Tila Rupa Sapkota have received the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar 2024 from the Sangeet Natak Akademi for their contributions to folk dance and theatre.
The awards were presented by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat at a ceremony in New Delhi on October 19, 2026.
Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang-Golay congratulated the two artists, describing their national recognition as a moment of pride for the state.
“This national recognition is a moment of immense pride for Sikkim, celebrating the extraordinary talent of our daughters who continue to bring honour to our State through their dedication to art and culture,” the Chief Minister said.
“Their achievement is Sikkim’s pride, and their success is an inspiration to generations to come!” he added.
Dilu Tamang has contributed to the research, choreography and preservation of Himalayan ethnic dance forms. Her work has helped bring indigenous traditions, including Tamang Selo, Maruni and Chutkay, to national and international platforms. She has also represented India at the ‘Ullas’ festival in Osaka, Japan.
Tila Rupa Sapkota, a Gangtok-based actor and theatre practitioner, trained at the National School of Drama (NSD) Sikkim Training Centre. She spent more than a decade with the NSD Sikkim Repertory Company and has mentored young performing artists across the region.
Instituted in 2006 by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar recognises outstanding performing artists below the age of 40 in music, dance, theatre and traditional folk arts.
Each award comprises a citation, known as a Tamrapatra, an Angavastram and a cash prize of ₹25,000.
The recognition of the two artists highlights Sikkim’s contribution to India’s diverse performing arts traditions and the preservation of its cultural heritage.
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