Honouring Excellence in Dance: ‘Nritya Samrat’ Award Celebrates legendary Kathak Guru Jinadasa Wickramasinghe

Jinadasa Wickramasinghe. 
Pix by Vihanga Rukshan

Aditi Mangaldas
Pix by Innie Singh

Dancers Aditi Mangaldas and 
 Dr Waidyawathi Rajapaksha

Vihanga Rukshan
Pix By Kenula Pathirathna

Colombo will come alive with rhythm and reverence as the 3rd annual Guru Wickramasinghe Nritya Samrat Mahotsav unfolds on September 14, 2025, at 7:00 PM at the Lionel Wendt Theatre. This cultural festival, organised by the Edgevin Vihan Company under the artistic direction of Vihanga Rukshan, pays homage to the late Pandith Jinadasa Wickramasinghe, Sri Lanka’s pioneering Kathak maestro.
Pandith Wickramasinghe’s legacy is monumental. A disciple of the legendary Pandit Achchan Maharaj Ji of the Lucknow gharana, he shaped Kathak’s global journey through teaching, scholarship, and innovation. His achievements include mentoring the young Pt. Birju Maharaj,  compiling the first Kathak syllabus for Bhatkhande University, earning the Sangeet Natak Academy Award in 1971–72, the only Sri Lankan ever to do so. This festival, the first global tribute to his life and work, cements his place as a bridge between Indian and Sri Lankan artistic traditions.
A Confluence of Traditions
The evening promises an extraordinary programme. Headlining the Mahotsav is Smt. Aditi Mangaldas, one of the world’s foremost Kathak dancers. Known for blending the rigour of classical tradition with a contemporary sensibility, her performance will be a luminous tribute to Kathak’s depth and dynamism.
From Sri Lanka, Dr. Waidyawathie  Rajapaksha, a distinguished exponent of the Amunugama Parampara in Kandyan dance, will perform a rare solo recital. Her presence highlights the Mahotsav’s vision: celebrating both the universality and the unique cultural identities of dance.
Adding to the evening’s brilliance, Vihanga Rukshan will present a Kathak solo, underscoring his dual role as performer and custodian of Wickramasinghe’s legacy. His current project—translating Wickramasinghe’s 1984 text Kathak Nritya Mala into Sinhala—aims to preserve and pass on the maestro’s scholarship to future generations.
The Inaugural ‘Nritya Samrat’ Award
The highlight of the Mahotsav will be the presentation of the “Nritya Samrat” Award, a new honour created to recognise dancers who embody Pandit Wickramasinghe’s spirit of dedication and innovation. Significantly, it is the only award of its kind from Sri Lanka bestowed upon Indian and Sri Lankan dancers, reflecting the deep cultural ties between the two nations.
This year’s awardees are Smt. Aditi Mangaldas of India and Dr. Waidyawathie Rajapaksha of Sri Lanka, artists whose artistry transcends borders while remaining rooted in tradition.
As the curtain rises at Lionel Wendt, the Mahotsav will not merely be a performance but a celebration of artistic heritage, cultural bridges, and the timeless rhythm that unites humanity through dance.

The event is held on Sunday, 14 September 2025, 7:00 PM at the Lionel Wendt Theatre in Colombo. For bookings: Call +94 707 304 060