Padma Shri winner dedicates award to lovers of ‘zadipatti’

Gadchiroli: Parshuram

Khune, a veteran zadipatti theatre artist from Gadchiroli, who has been bestowed with the Padma Shri, dedicated the honour to the lovers of the folk theatre form he is associated with.

Dedicating his award to zadipatti theatre, Khune said, “I dedicate my award at the feet of zadipatti theatre lovers, who gave me love and encouragement during the last 50 years of my journey in this field.”

He added, “I love zadipatti theatre very much. This Padma Shri award is a recognition of all the artists involved in this art form as well as its audience.”

As per a government website, zadipatti derives its name from the local name zadi for rice. The theatre form is practiced in eastern Maharashtra, especially in Chandrapur, Bhandara, Gadchiroli and Gondia districts.

FELICITATIONS TO AWARDEE’S WORK WITH LEPROSY PATIENTS

Thane: Gajanan Jagannath Mane, who has been honoured with Padma Shri for social work in Maharashtra, was felicitated by the KalyanDombivali Municipal Corporation (KDMC) in Thane district on Friday. A former Navy personnel, Mane has been working for the rehabilitation of leprosy-affected people across the state for decades. He is among the 91 Padma Shri awardees this year. Mane, who lives in Dombivali, worked hard to set up a colony for those afflicted with leprosy, a bacterial disease, at Hanuman Nagar. He also ensured jobs for many of them.