Twisha Vyas, a Bardoli-based folk dancer and musician, has been selected for the 2025 Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, under the Union Ministry of Culture, for her contribution to Gujarat's Garba tradition. The award, one of India's most prestigious honours for emerging performing artists, recognises her sustained work in preserving and promoting the folk dance form at both state and national levels.

Recognition Rooted in Heritage

The selection carries added significance given that UNESCO inscribed Gujarat's Garba on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in recent years, placing a global spotlight on the tradition. Vyas's award reflects the renewed institutional attention on safeguarding India's living folk arts at a time when their cultural context is evolving rapidly.

Vyas, who runs the V. Killolkumar Group of Music & Dance Academy in Bardoli, described Garba as far more than a performance art. 'Garba is a living expression of faith, culture and collective identity. My artistic journey had been guided by a commitment to understanding not only Garba's performance techniques but also its original form, traditions, spirituality and cultural significance,' she said.

An Artist Trained Across Disciplines

Vyas holds a postgraduate degree in English Literature and has completed a Master of Performing Arts (M.P.A.) and an M.A. in Bharatanatyam, graduating as an Alankar Gold Medallist. Her musical training spans the violin, mandolin, flute, harmonium, and tabla — a cross-disciplinary grounding she credits for deepening her understanding of rhythm, expression, and performance within Garba presentations.

She has performed before President Droupadi Murmu, former President Ram Nath Kovind, and music composer Anandji Kalyanji, underscoring the reach of her artistic profile beyond regional platforms.

A Footprint Across India

Over the years, Vyas has represented Gujarat's folk culture at prominent state events including the International Tarnetar Fair, Chotila Festival, Modhera Festival, Dakor Faganotsav, Vasantotsav, G20 events, Gujarat Gaurav Abhiyan, and Ambaji Mahotsav. Her performances have also extended to Rajasthan, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Manipur, Kolkata, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh, carrying the Garba tradition to audiences across the country. She has additionally served as a judge in government competitions such as Kala Mahakumbh and Yuva Utsav.

A Responsibility, Not a Culmination

Reflecting on the national honour, Vyas framed the award not as an endpoint but as the start of a deeper obligation. 'Preserving traditional art forms required sustained commitment, particularly at a time when they coexist with changing lifestyles and commercial entertainment,' she said. She also stressed the need for collective effort to protect Garba's sanctity and traditional character, particularly among younger generations who may encounter the form primarily through its commercial avatar. Her selection signals that India's cultural institutions are increasingly looking to practitioner-scholars — artists who combine performance rigour with academic grounding — to carry living heritage forward.