Padma Shri Honors Two Artisans

Two amazing artists in India have won a very special award called the Padma Shri.

Bhiklya Dhinda is a 92-year-old man who has spent over 80 years playing and teaching the Tarpa, a traditional wind instrument from his tribal community.

His family has been playing the Tarpa for nearly 150 years, and he learned to play when he was just 12 years old.

Even though he never went to school, he became very good at playing the Tarpa and dancing to its music.

Khemaraj Sundriyal is a master weaver who has spent six decades innovating and dedicating himself to Indian handicrafts.

He came from a farming family in Uttarakhand and faced many challenges but chose weaving as his life's goal.

He moved to Panipat and experimented with traditional Khes weaving, turning it into modern products.

He also adapted traditional art forms to new materials, like wool shawls.

Both of these artists have won the Padma Shri for their amazing work in preserving and promoting traditional Indian art and crafts.