Bhubaneswar/ New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu conferred the prestigious Padma Shri to Odia puppeteer Maguni Charan Kuanr at a function held at the Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi on Wednesday.
Octogenarian Kuanr was conferred with the award for preserving a dying art like puppet dance.
Four eminent personalities from Odisha were shortlisted for the conferment of the 2023 Padma Awards. The three others – Krishna Patel for art, Antaryami Mishra for literature and education, and Patayat Sahu for agriculture, will be conferred the Padma Awards on April 4.
The President conferred 52 Padma Awards on Wednesday. She conferred two Padma Vibhushan, four Padma Bhushan, and 46 Padma Shri awards.
