Oriya puppeteer Maguni Charan Kunar honored with Padma Shri

Bringing laurels for the State, Maguni Charan Kuanr of Keonjhar district was felicitated with the prestigious Padma Shri award by President Droupadi Murmu during a special event held in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Kuanr was conferred with the prestigious award for devoting his life to preserving a dying art like puppet dance. Notably, four eminent personalities from Odisha were shortlisted for the conferment of the 2023 Padma Awards.

They are Krishna Patel, a singer; Antaryami Mishra, a litterateur and Pattayat Sahu, a farmer.