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Tamasha Artist Raghuveer Khedkar's Padma Shri Honour After 53-Year Journey

Veteran folk artist Raghuveer Khedkar has been named a Padma Shri awardee for 2026 for his lifelong dedication to Maharashtra's Tamasha theatre tradition. Khedkar, who learned the art from his mother, expressed disbelief and profound happiness at the national recognition of his 53-year career. He dedicated the honour to his mother, crediting her for his guidance and success in preserving and promoting Tamasha. The awards were announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs on the eve of Republic Day, with 131 Padma Awards conferred this year.

Key Points: Raghuveer Khedkar Awarded Padma Shri for Tamasha Theatre Work

  • Honoured for over 53 years in Tamasha folk theatre
  • Dedicated award to his mother and teacher
  • Trained many young performers to sustain the tradition
  • Among 131 Padma awardees for 2026
2 min read

"I can't believe it...": Tamasha artist Raghuveer Khedkar on receiving Padma Shri

Veteran Tamasha folk artist Raghuveer Khedkar expresses disbelief and gratitude upon receiving the Padma Shri award for his over five decades of work.

"I can't believe I've received the Padma Shri award... I am very grateful to the Government of India. - Raghuveer Khedkar"

Solapur, January 26

Folk artist Raghuveer Khedkar has been named among the Padma Shri awardees for 2026.

The honour has come as a big moment for the veteran artist, who has spent more than five decades working for the Tamasha folk theatre tradition of Maharashtra.

Khedkar is known for keeping the Tamasha art form alive and taking it beyond the state. From a young age, he learned the craft from his mother and later carried her work forward. Over the years, he has led a Tamasha troupe and trained many young performers to keep the tradition strong.

After the announcement, Khedkar spoke about his feelings and said the news still feels unreal to him. He spoke about his long journey and how thankful he feels that his work has been recognised after so many years.

While speaking to ANI, Raghuveer Khedkar said,"...I can't believe I've received the Padma Shri award, and I'm very, very happy because my work, which I've done over fifty-three years, has been recognised. I am very grateful to the Government of India. I would like to dedicate this honour to my mother because she taught me, she guided me. It's all because of my mother, and I dedicate this to her..."

On the eve of Republic Day 2026, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced the recipients of this year's Padma Awards, honouring individuals for their remarkable contributions to the nation. It includes Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. Madhavan has been named alongside distinguished individuals from the fields of art, education, sports, and various other disciplines.

For the year 2026, the President has approved conferment of 131 Padma Awards, including 2 duo cases (in a duo case, the Award is counted as one). The list comprises 5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri Awards. 19 of the awardees are women, and the list also includes 6 persons from the category of Foreigners / NRI / PIO / OCI, and 16 Posthumous awardees.

The Padma Awards are conferred on the recommendations made by the Padma Awards Committee, which is constituted by the Prime Minister every year.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Finally! These awards should go to real grassroots artists, not just celebrities. Khedkar's work in keeping Tamasha alive is a service to our culture. His humility in dedicating it to his mother shows his values. Well deserved, sir!
A
Aman W
While I'm happy for Shri Khedkar, I do wish the Padma committee would be more transparent about the selection process sometimes. There are so many unsung heroes across India. But congratulations to him, his dedication is remarkable.
S
Sarah B
As someone who studied Indian folk theatre, this is fantastic. Tamasha is such a vibrant and important tradition. Awards like this help bring these art forms into the national conversation. More power to him and his troupe!
V
Vikram M
Bahut khoob! 👏 This is what Republic Day honours are about - recognizing the people who are the true backbone of Indian culture. His story of learning from his mother is so beautiful. Hope this inspires more youth to take up traditional arts.
K
Kavya N
My grandfather used to take us to Tamasha performances in our village. It's a dying art. So glad artists like Khedkar are being honored. The government should also ensure financial support and platforms for these traditions to thrive.

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