Celebrating Nepal’s Literary and Cultural Excellence

The Madan Puraskar Guthi has officially conferred the prestigious Madan Puraskar (Kriti Puraskar) and Jagadamba Shree Honor for the year 2081 B.S. in a special ceremony held at the Kamalmani Theater, Patan Dhoka, Patan, on Sunday.

This year’s Jagadamba Shree Honor was awarded to Premdev Giri, a dedicated collector and preserver of Nepali folk traditions, while the Madan Puraskar was presented to Chuden Kawimo for his acclaimed literary work, “Uramal.”

Both recipients received a letter of honor and a cash prize of NPR 400,000 each as a token of recognition for their outstanding contributions to Nepal’s literature and culture.

A Ceremony of Art, Heritage, and Scholarship

The event featured a scholarly address by Prof. Dr. Veena Paudyal, a respected cultural scholar, who presented a lecture titled “Art, Icons, and Preservation.”
In her speech, Dr. Paudyal emphasized that archaeology plays a vital role in revealing human history through evidence and stressed that preserving art and culture is a shared social responsibility.

Voices of the Honorees

Chuden Kawimo, the author of “Uramal” and a writer of Indian origin, expressed that literature transcends boundaries of geography and identity.
He remarked:

Love and literature have no borders. Literature always connects with the deprived, the oppressed, and human emotions. I am inspired to keep writing to preserve the human within the human.

Meanwhile, Premdev Giri, honored with the Jagadamba Shree, reflected on his long journey of preserving Nepal’s folk culture.
Born in Surkhet, Karnali, Giri began his theatrical career in 2025 B.S., performing at Rastriya Naach Ghar between 2029 and 2041 B.S.
From 2043 to 2045 B.S., he contributed to Radio Nepal, providing madal rhythms while collecting folk songs and melodies from remote villages across the Karnali and Bheri regions.

His lifelong dedication to documenting and safeguarding Nepal’s intangible heritage has earned him national recognition and admiration.

About the Awards

The Madan Puraskar is Nepal’s most prestigious literary award, established to honor exceptional contributions to Nepali literature.
Similarly, the Jagadamba Shree Honor recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the preservation and promotion of Nepali art, language, and culture.

Together, these honors represent the highest recognition of literary and cultural excellence in Nepal, continuing to inspire generations of writers, artists, and researchers.

Event Date: Sunday, 2081 B.S.
Venue: Kamalmani Theater, Patan Dhoka, Patan
Organized by: Madan Puraskar Guthi