Overview

• The ceremony was presided over by Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya and attended by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
• Instituted in 1986 and shifted to a three-year cycle in 2008, the Srimanta Sankardev Award honors contributions to art, culture and society in Assam.
• Mansingh’s national accolades include the Padma Bhushan in 1992 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2003, reflecting her status among India’s most decorated dancers.
• She has long used her performances and teaching to champion women’s empowerment, environmental awareness and social justice.
• Her award package comprised a gold medallion, an Angavastram, a traditional bell-metal Xorai tray, a citation and a ₹5 lakh cash prize.