The Kalaguru Bishnu Rabha Award, 2019 will be conferred to maskartisan Reba Kanta Mahanta and Manipuri dance exponent Laitjonam EbampisokDevi. The Assam government announced the name of the awardee on Friday and theaward ceremony will be held at Tahsil Maidan in Rongjuli of Goalpara districton the occasion of Bishnu Rabha Divas on June 20.
The award comprises of cash amount of Rs.2lakhs, a certificateand an angavastra which will be handed over by Assam Chief Minister SarbanandaSonowal.
Reba Kanta Mahanta is accomplished in Sattriya Dance, AnkiyaBhaona and other mask making traditions in the state. Born on April 19, 1935,Mahanta hails from Sivasagar district.
Mahanta's masks have been procured by reputed national andinternational museums for display in their halls. He was also a recipient ofthe Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2014.
On the other hand, Manipuri dancer Laitjonam Devi has enthralledthe audiences with her various folk dances like Eswai Nritya, Krishna Nritya,Moirangsai Nritya, Nimai Sanyasi, Yogi Bhesh, Rasleela Nritya, Naitam Nrityaand others.
Devi was a gold medalist who received medal of Manipurgovernment in 1990. She also received Tombi Devi gold medal in 1990, gold medalof Manipur Sahitya Parishad in 1998.
She was also enlisted under the Silpi Pension of the AssamGovernment.
