Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday expressed profound grief over the demise of veteran Pala singer and Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee Pandit Jagannath Behera, describing his death as an irreparable loss to the state’s cultural heritage.
In a post on his X handle, the Chief Minister paid rich tributes to the noted folk artiste, saying Behera’s unparalleled contribution to the preservation, promotion and propagation of Odisha’s traditional folk art form, Pala, would remain unforgettable.
Majhi said the veteran artiste’s lifelong dedication to the art form and his scholarly contributions had significantly enriched Odisha’s cultural landscape. He noted that Behera’s passing marked an irreplaceable loss to the state’s cultural sphere.
The Chief Minister also conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and prayed to Lord Jagannath for the eternal peace of the departed soul.
“His unparalleled contributions to the preservation, promotion, and propagation of our traditional folk art ‘Pala’ will forever remain memorable. His devoted artistic practice and scholarship have enriched our cultural world,” Majhi said in his condolence message.
