CM Majhi mourns Pala legend Pandit Jagannath Behera
Synopsis
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi mourned the passing of Pandit Jagannath Behera, a celebrated Pala folk singer and Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee, calling his death an irreplaceable loss for Odisha's cultural world.
Key Takeaways
Pandit Jagannath Behera , veteran Pala singer and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award recipient, has passed away.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed deep grief and conveyed condolences to the bereaved family on 3 August 2026 .
Pala is a centuries-old Odia narrative folk singing tradition rooted in devotional and mythological themes.
CM Majhi described Behera's contribution to the preservation and promotion of Pala as 'unparalleled' and his passing as an 'irreplaceable loss' for Odisha's cultural sphere.
The Sangeet Natak Akademi , India's national performing arts academy, had previously recognised Behera's lifetime contribution to folk arts.
A voice that carried Odisha's oldest storytelling tradition has fallen silent. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed deep grief on Monday, 3 August 2026, over the passing of Pandit Jagannath Behera — veteran Pala singer and recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award — calling the loss 'irreplaceable for Odisha's cultural world.'
Posting in Odia on X, Chief Minister Majhi wrote: 'ବର୍ଷୀୟାନ୍ ପାଲା ଗାୟକ... ପଣ୍ଡିତ ଜଗନ୍ନାଥ ବେହେରାଙ୍କ ବିୟୋଗ ଖବର ଶୁଣି ମୁଁ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଦୁଃଖିତ' — 'I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of veteran Pala singer Pandit Jagannath Behera.' He praised Behera's 'unparalleled contribution' to the preservation, promotion, and propagation of Pala, and offered prayers to Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath for the peace of the departed soul. 'Om Shanti,' he closed.
The art form Pandit Behera gave his life to
Pala is one of Odisha's most ancient narrative folk traditions — a form of devotional and mythological storytelling set to song, performed by a lead singer (the Gayaka) and a chorus. Rooted in oral transmission, it weaves together scripture, philosophy, and social commentary in the Odia language. Practitioners like Pandit Jagannath Behera were not merely performers; they were living archives of a tradition that predates formal institutions by centuries. Behera's recognition by the Sangeet Natak Akademi — India's apex body for music, dance, and drama, established under the Union government — placed him among the country's most distinguished folk artists. The Akademi's awards carry the weight of national acknowledgement, and Behera's inclusion in that roster underscored how far Pala's reach extended beyond Odisha's borders.Odisha's tradition of honouring its folk custodians
Chief Minister Majhi's tribute follows a longstanding practice among Odisha's political leadership of publicly acknowledging the death of senior folk and classical artists. These statements are more than protocol. They signal the state's recognition that intangible heritage — art forms passed down through voice and memory rather than text and stone — is as vital to cultural identity as any monument. Odisha has periodically backed documentation and support schemes for performing arts like Pala, and Behera's passing may prompt fresh attention from the state's cultural department toward archiving his body of work and supporting the next generation of Pala practitioners. A tradition as old as Pala can survive the loss of a master — but only if the institutions meant to carry it forward are ready to act. That is the question his passing now puts on the table.Point of View
As an oral tradition, is particularly vulnerable to generational rupture, and the death of a nationally recognised practitioner sharpens the urgency of institutional archiving. Majhi's invocation of Mahaprabhu Jagannath also grounds the tribute in Odisha's religio-cultural nationalism — a framing successive governments have used to elevate folk traditions to the level of state pride. The real test will be whether the condolence translates into concrete cultural department action.
NationPress
3 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Pandit Jagannath Behera?
Pandit Jagannath Behera was a veteran Odia Pala singer and recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, recognised for his lifelong contribution to the preservation and promotion of Odisha's traditional Pala folk art.
What is Pala, the Odia folk art form?
Pala is one of Odisha's oldest narrative folk traditions, combining devotional and mythological storytelling with song. It is performed by a lead singer (Gayaka) supported by a chorus and has been passed down orally for centuries.
What did CM Mohan Majhi say about Pandit Jagannath Behera's death?
CM Mohan Charan Majhi said he was 'deeply saddened' by the passing, called Behera's contribution to Pala 'unparalleled,' described the loss as 'irreplaceable for Odisha's cultural world,' and prayed to Mahaprabhu Jagannath for the departed soul's peace.
What is the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award?
The Sangeet Natak Akademi Award is India's highest national recognition for practitioners of music, dance, and drama, conferred by the Sangeet Natak Akademi — the Union government's apex body for the performing arts.
What happens to Pala folk art after Pandit Behera's passing?
Behera's death raises fresh questions about archiving and institutional support for Pala. Odisha's state cultural department may announce memorial or documentation initiatives, though no official announcements have been made yet.
