Chandraprakash Dwivedi, 17 other artists given UP Sangeet Natak Akademi awards

LUCKNOW: Governor Anandiben Patel on Tuesday felicitated 18 performing artists with UP Sangeet Natak Akademi awards for 2020.
The programme was earlier scheduled to be organized on April 11, 2021 but got postponed in the wake of pandemic.
Kathak exponent and former vice chancellor Bhatkhande Music Institute Poornima Pandey, classical music singer Yugantar Sindhoor, theatre critic late Kunwarji Agrawal, folk singer Urmila Srivastava were felicitated with Akademi fellowship.
Director and actor Chandraprakash Dwivedi was awarded with BM Shah and Vipulkrishna Nagar was felicitated with Safdar Hashmi award. Mahant Prof Vishambernath Mishra, Anant Narayan Singh, Brajeshwar Singh, Shardmani Tripathi, Bhramapal Nagar, Pandit Rameshwar Prasad Mishra, Vishal Krishna, Bhura Yadav, Rakesh, Anil Mishra 'Guruji', Ashtabhuja Mishra, Vinod Lele and Fateh Ali Khan were also awarded.
Besides, a memorandum of understanding between departments of culture and tourism, MP and UP was signed during the event. The MoU will help in culture exchange and promotion of tourism of both the states.
While addressing the audience, Patel said that the parents should inculcate the habit of visiting our and nearby states among children to learn about various cultural practices of the country.
"Some interstate academic, sports and cultural activities should also be organized by the universities and colleges. This will help in overall development of the students," said Patel.
Minister for tourism, culture, religious trust and endowment, MP, Usha Thakur, minister of tourism and culture, UP, Jaiveer Singh were present during the signing of MoU.