A dancer performs at Guru Pankaj Utsav, an annual festival in the memory of Pankaj Charan Das (picture in background), which concluded at Rabindra Mandap on Sunday.

Odissi dancer Jyoti Rout received the Mahari Samman for this year. Trained at Utkal Sangeet Mahavidya-laya, she has performed at prominent events across the world. Last year, Odissi danseuse and choreographer Sharmila Mukherjee had received the award.

This apart, flautist Mohini Mahan Pattanayak, mardala player Satchhidananda Das, singer Sangeeta Gosain and dancer Madhumita Rout were felicitated for their contribution to Odia culture.

The event marked the 97th birth anniversary of Guru Pankaj Charan Das and saw performances by dancers such as Sujata Nayak from Calcutta, Jhelum Paranjape from Mumbai and Sudarshan Sahoo from New Delhi.