Haldwani -Swastika Joshi, a young and talented Bharatanatyam dancer from Haldwani, Uttarakhand, has been selected for the prestigious National Scholarship awarded by the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT) under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. She is the only child artist from Uttarakhand to receive this scholarship for training in the South Indian classical dance form of Bharatanatyam.
Swastika began learning Bharatanatyam at the age of six under the traditional Guru-Shishya (teacher-disciple) tradition from her guru, the renowned Shubham Khowal. Despite her young age, Swastika has already showcased her talent on several prestigious platforms across the country. By the age of 11, she has performed in cities like Delhi, Agra, Shimla, Ujjain, Ghaziabad, Prayagraj, Lucknow, Varanasi, Almora, and her hometown Haldwani.
Currently, Swastika is a seventh-grade student at St. Teresa’s School, Haldwani. Her dedication and discipline toward classical dance recently earned her an invitation to perform a solo Bharatanatyam presentation at the cultural events organized by the Uttar Pradesh government at the Namo Ghat and Assi Ghat in Varanasi.
Swastika’s consistent excellence in the field of dance has been recognized at several levels. She has received numerous honors, including the Uttarakhand Bal Gaurav Samman, Kumaon Shreshtha Samman, Shashi Kala Praveen Samman, and the Pt. Banarasi Das Memorial Award. These accolades reflect her growing stature as a young cultural ambassador of Uttarakhand.
Her father, Hemant Joshi, shared that this scholarship will support her Bharatanatyam training until the age of 20, helping her pursue advanced education in the art form. He expressed pride in her achievements and thanked all those who have supported her journey.
Swastika’s selection for this prestigious national scholarship has been widely appreciated, with many people extending their congratulations. Her achievement not only brings pride to her family and school but also to the entire state of Uttarakhand, highlighting the region’s potential in classical arts on a national stage.
