Dilu Tamang honoured with Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar

GANGTOK,: Folk dancer, choreographer and cultural practitioner from Sikkim, Dilu Tamang, has been conferred with the prestigious Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for the year 2024 by the Sangeet Natak Akademi under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, in recognition of her contribution to folk dance.

The award was presented on October 19 at Lalit Kala Akademi in New Delhi by the Union Minister for Culture, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

A press release informs that the national honour recognises outstanding young practitioners in the performing arts and acknowledges their contributions to preserving and promoting India’s diverse cultural traditions. Tamang’s achievement brings recognition to Sikkim’s rich cultural heritage and highlights the contribution of the state’s artists to the national performing arts landscape.

Also known as Dilkumari Tamang, she hails from Tadong, Sikkim, and is the daughter of Dhan Bahadur Tamang and Ful Maya Tamang. With over 20 years of experience in dance and cultural preservation, she has dedicated her career to promoting traditional folk and tribal dance forms of Sikkim and India.

Tamang is the Director of Dynamic Flickers Dance Academy, through which she has worked to nurture young talent, train aspiring dancers and promote traditional performing arts. Her work encompasses folk traditions such as Maruni, Ghatu and Tamang Selo, helping preserve these cultural expressions and introduce them to wider audiences.

The Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar adds to Tamang’s list of achievements. She received the Nritya Seva Shri Samman in 2023 in recognition of her contribution to dance and culture. She was also a winner at the National Tribal Dance Festival in 2022.

In 2025, she represented India at World Expo Osaka in Japan, showcasing the country’s vibrant cultural heritage on an international platform. Her participation reflected her continued efforts to promote traditional performing arts beyond national boundaries.

Tamang is also the choreographer of Golden Feet Sikkim, a championship-winning dance team. Through her work as a choreographer, teacher and mentor, she has encouraged young performers to develop their skills while remaining connected to their cultural roots.

Her sustained contribution to the performing arts reflects a commitment to preserving traditional dance forms and ensuring that they continue to be practised and appreciated by future generations.

Instituted by the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2006, the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar recognises outstanding young artists for their contributions to music, dance, theatre and other traditional and folk performing arts. It seeks to encourage promising practitioners and acknowledge their role in carrying forward India’s diverse artistic traditions.

The award carries a cash prize of Rs 25,000, along with a Tamrapatra and an Angavastram.

Dilu Tamang’s recognition for 2024 marks an important milestone in her artistic journey and is a moment of pride for Sikkim’s cultural fraternity. Her achievement highlights the importance of folk artists in safeguarding traditional art forms and promoting the State’s cultural identity at national and international levels, the release mentions.