Guru Gangadhar Pradhan’s vision extended far beyond the boundaries of Odissi, the art that he felt he was chosen to nurture. In a country where the arts are highly underfunded, he took on the challenge to stage a festival of International repute in the quiet but historically rich town of Konark over 26 years ago.

Guru Gangadhar Pradhan Foundation has instituted a lifetime achievement award in his name. This award will be conferred every year at the Konark Dance and Music Festival to an artist of great national and international repute who has played the role of a cultural ambassador for Indian Classical and Traditional Arts. The artist will be chosen not only for their dedication and achievement in their field, but also for their activism and contribution to uplift the art and creating new avenues for its propagation. The award will constitute a cash gift of Rs. 1 lakh, a memento in the form of a stylized image of Guru Gangadhar Pradhan and a citation honoring the artist from the Konark Natya Mandap and the Guru Gangadhar Pradhan Foundation.