One of India’s Most Respected National Honours for Outstanding Young Performing Artists
SRINAGAR, 11 June 2026 : In a proud moment for the Kashmir region, Ravice Rashid, popularly known as Rayees Wathori, has been selected for the prestigious Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar 2025 in the field of Folk Theatre.
Presented by the Sangeet Natak Akademi under the Ministry of Culture, the award is among India’s most respected national honours for young performing artists.
Rayees Wathori has been recognized for his outstanding contribution to the preservation and promotion of folk theatre. His dedication to traditional performing arts and his efforts to keep folk theatre vibrant and relevant have earned him national recognition.
The announcement has been widely welcomed by the artistic fraternity, marking a significant milestone in the journey of the young artist and bringing pride to the folk theatre community.
