Umesh Bhardwaj Honoured with Pratibha Pushp Award at Grand Ceremony in Mandi.
Shimla:
Renowned cultural figure Umesh Bhardwaj, Director of Sangeet Sadan, was conferred with the prestigious Pratibha Pushp Award by the Pratibha Pushp Foundation (USA) at a grand ceremony held at Khatri Sabha in Mandi district on Friday.
The award was presented during the foundation’s ninth annual award ceremony in the presence of distinguished guests including Y P Kapoor and members of the local community. The chief guest on the occasion was eminent singer and educationist Shukla Sharma, popularly known as the “Swar Kokila of Himachal.” She honoured Bhardwaj with a memento and a cash prize of Rs. 25,000 in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the field of art and music.
The event was also attended by Pushp Kapoor, a native of Mandi currently settled in the United States and the driving force behind the Pratibha Pushp Foundation. Kapoor has consistently contributed to several major social and cultural initiatives in Mandi.
Addressing the packed auditorium filled with dignitaries and representatives from various city institutions, Kapoor announced that after successfully organizing the award ceremony for nine consecutive years—honouring eminent personalities from art, culture, sports, and other fields—the foundation has decided to discontinue the award program starting next year due to certain reasons.
Instead, Kapoor revealed that the foundation will extend focused support to other meaningful initiatives. In this regard, he announced sponsorship of the annual training camp organized by Sangeet Sadan every May for budding artists. The foundation will bear the full expenses of 25–30 participating children, thereby promoting young talent and encouraging artistic development at the grassroots level.
The ceremony was marked by vibrant cultural performances. Artists from the “Old Band Boys” enthralled the audience with their melodious presentations, while other performers also added charm and grandeur to the evening with their cultural renditions.
The award ceremony was conducted by Aruna Kapoor, while the cultural segment was anchored by Nityadarshi Vaidya.
The event concluded on a celebratory note, reaffirming Mandi’s rich cultural heritage and continued commitment to nurturing artistic excellence.
