Sikkim artists Yuva Puraskar 2024 recognition has brought national attention to the state’s rich performing arts traditions, with folk dancer Dilu Tamang and theatre practitioner Tila Rupa Sapkota receiving the prestigious Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar. The awards were presented by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat at a ceremony in New Delhi on October 19, 2026. The recognition celebrates the artists’ contributions to preserving traditional dance forms and strengthening theatre in the region.
The achievement has been welcomed as a proud moment for Sikkim, highlighting the growing visibility of artists from the Himalayan state on India’s national cultural platform.
Sikkim Artists Yuva Puraskar 2024 Recognises Folk Dance and Theatre
The Sangeet Natak Akademi conferred the awards on Dilu Tamang for her contribution to folk dance and Tila Rupa Sapkota for her work in theatre. Both artists have pursued different artistic paths while contributing to the preservation and promotion of performing arts.
The recognition places a spotlight on the role of regional artists in sustaining India’s cultural diversity. Folk dance preserves community traditions, music and movement, while theatre provides a platform for storytelling, social reflection and creative expression.
For Sikkim, the awards are particularly significant because they acknowledge the contribution of local practitioners whose work connects traditional knowledge with contemporary audiences.
The awards were part of the national presentation ceremony for the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for 2024 and 2025. According to the Ministry of Culture, 106 young artists were selected for the two award years.
Dilu Tamang’s Contribution to Himalayan Folk Dance
Dilu Tamang, also known as Dilkumari Tamang, has worked in the research, choreography and preservation of Himalayan ethnic dance traditions. Her efforts have helped bring indigenous forms such as Tamang Selo, Maruni and Chutkay to wider audiences.
These traditional dance forms carry cultural significance through their movements, rhythms, costumes and connections to community life. Preserving them requires not only performance skills but also research, documentation and an understanding of their historical and social contexts.
Tamang’s work has helped promote these traditions beyond their local settings, creating opportunities for audiences elsewhere in India and abroad to engage with Sikkim’s cultural heritage.
She has also represented India at the ‘Ullas’ festival in Osaka, Japan. Such international participation offers an opportunity to introduce regional Indian art forms to global audiences and encourage greater appreciation of the country’s diverse cultural practices.
Her recognition with the Yuva Puraskar acknowledges the importance of artists who dedicate their careers to keeping traditional performance forms relevant for younger generations.
Tila Rupa Sapkota’s Journey in Theatre
Tila Rupa Sapkota, a Gangtok-based actor and theatre practitioner, has made sustained contributions to the performing arts through training, stage work and mentorship.
She trained at the National School of Drama’s Sikkim Training Centre and spent more than a decade with the NSD Sikkim Repertory Company. Her experience in repertory theatre provided opportunities to develop her craft and collaborate with other performing artists.
Sapkota has also worked with established theatre directors, including Raghubir Yadav, Tripurari Sharma and Ajay Malkani. Her professional experience extends beyond Sikkim, including a two-year stint performing in the musical Jaan-E-Jigar in Dubai.
Now working as an independent theatre practitioner, she continues to contribute to the regional theatre community and mentor young performers.
Her award recognises the commitment required to build a sustained career in theatre, an art form that depends on performance, collaboration, discipline and continuous engagement with audiences.
Sikkim Chief Minister Congratulates the Awardees
Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang-Golay congratulated both artists on receiving the national honour, describing their achievements as a matter of pride for the state.
He said the recognition celebrated the extraordinary talent of Sikkim’s daughters and their dedication to art and culture. He also expressed the hope that their success would inspire future generations.
The congratulatory message reflects the wider significance of the awards for Sikkim’s cultural community. National recognition can help regional artists gain visibility, encourage aspiring performers and strengthen public interest in traditional and contemporary art forms.
It also draws attention to the need for continued support for cultural institutions, training facilities, performance spaces and programmes that help young artists develop their abilities.
What the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar Represents
Instituted by the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2006, the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar honours outstanding young practitioners in performing arts. It covers music, dance, theatre, traditional and folk arts, tribal performance traditions and puppetry.
The award is intended for eligible Indian artists up to 40 years of age. Each recipient receives a cash prize of Rs 25,000, a Tamrapatra and an Angavastram.
By recognising emerging and accomplished practitioners, the award seeks to encourage artistic excellence and motivate young people to pursue careers in the performing arts.
The recognition of Dilu Tamang and Tila Rupa Sapkota reinforces Sikkim’s place in India’s cultural landscape. Their achievements demonstrate how folk traditions and theatre can preserve heritage while creating new opportunities for artistic expression. Their national honour is expected to encourage greater appreciation of Sikkim’s performers and inspire more young people to explore the state’s rich artistic traditions.
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