Ustad Bismillah Khan 2008 youth award to be presented on Thursday

New Delhi: Sangeet Natak Akademi Chairman Ram Niwas Mirdha will present the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for the year 2008 on Thursday (September 10).

Thirty-three artists will receive the award for 2008. The presentation ceremony will be followed by a week-long festival of music, dance and theatre etc. featuring some of the recipients of the year from 10-16 September 2009. The award was instituted in 2006 by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, the National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama, an autonomous body of Ministry of Culture, Government of India and apex institution of performing arts in the country. The presentation of the award is meant to encourage outstanding young talents in diverse fields of performing arts and give them national recognition early in life. The award is given to performing artists below the age of 35 years as on 1st April of the year and covers music, dance, theatre, puppetry and scholarship in performing arts. ANI