Nishagandhi Puraskaram facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nishagandhi Puraskaram
Presented by	Kerala Tourism Department
Location	Trivandrum, Kerala
Country	India
Reward	₹150,000 (US$2,600), Citation & statuette
First awarded	2013
Last awarded	2018

The Nishagandhi Puraskaram (also called the Nishagandhi award) is a special honor from the Tourism Department of Kerala in India. It is given every year to talented people in the fields of music and dance.

Winners receive a cash prize of 1,50,000 Indian Rupees. They also get a special certificate and a beautiful statuette. This award is presented during the Nishagandhi Dance and Music Festival. This cultural event is organized by the Kerala Tourism Department each year.

The Nishagandhi festival lasts for seven days. It takes place in January at the Nishagandhi amphitheater. This amphitheater is located near the Kanakakkunnu Palace in Trivandrum. Trivandrum is the capital city of Kerala. The award was started in 2013. Its goal was to make the festival well-known both in India and around the world.

Honoring Great Artists

The Nishagandhi Puraskaram celebrates amazing artists. It recognizes their hard work and contributions to music and dance. The award helps to highlight the rich culture of India. It also encourages new talent to shine.

The First Winners

The very first Nishagandhi Puraskaram was given in 2013. It went to the famous classical dancer Mrinalini Sarabhai. In 2014, the award was given to Hindustani musician Lalith J. Rao.

More Talented Awardees

In 2015, Dr Padma Subrahmanyam received the award. She is an expert in Bharata Natyam, a classical Indian dance style. The award in 2016 went to musician Ilayaraja. He was honored for his great work in the Indian film music industry.

In 2017, Bharati Shivaji won the award. She is a master of Mohiniyattom, another beautiful Indian dance form. The Governor of Kerala, P. Sathasivam, presented her with the award. In 2018, the award went to V. P. Dhananjayan and Shantha Dhananjayan. They are a well-known dance couple.

Past Award Winners

Here is a list of the talented individuals who have received the Nishagandhi Puraskaram:

Year	Image	Winner	Contributions	Notes
2013		Mrinalini Sarabhai	"for her excellence in Classical dance."
2014		Lalith J. Rao	"for the contributions in Hindustani Classical Music"
2015		Padma Subrahmanyam	"for her eminent contributions in Bharata Natyam"
2016		Ilaiyaraaja	"for his artistic excellence and contribution to the Indian film music industry"
2017		Bharati Shivaji	"for her contributions in Mohiniyattom"
2018		V. P. Dhananjayan & Shantha Dhananjayan	"for their contributions in Bharata Natyam"
2019		Kalamandalam Kshemavathy	"for her contributions in Mohiniyattam"
2020		C. V. Chandrasekhar	"for his contributions in Bharatanatyam"