Puttur: Vidushi Vindhyashree Rai, a third-year B.Sc. student of St Philomena College (Autonomous),Puttur has been conferred the Dakshina Kannada District Rajyotsava Award for 2026–27 in recognition of her sustained contribution to the field of Bharatanatyam.
The award was presented to her during the Kannada Rajyotsava celebrations held at Nehru Maidan in Mangaluru.
Vindhyashree has been practising Bharatanatyam for the past 18 years and has performed on several prestigious platforms. Besides her performances, she has contributed to the art form through dance choreography and training, nurturing and imparting the nuances of classical dance to aspiring students.
Her artistic pursuits extend beyond Bharatanatyam. She is also actively involved in theatre, music and anchoring, and has been conducting and presenting a variety of programmes, demonstrating her versatility across multiple cultural disciplines.
The award recognises her years of dedication, perseverance and commitment to the performing arts.
Her achievement has been widely celebrated at St Philomena’s Autonomous College, with the Management, faculty members and students extending their congratulations.
The Correspondent of the College, Very Rev. Dr John B. Saldanha, Principal Rev. Dr Antony Prakash Monteiro, members of the teaching fraternity and students have congratulated Vindhyashree on the honour, expressing pride in her accomplishment and appreciation for her contribution to the cultural sphere.