Noted singer of ‘Krishna Leela’, a popular folk dance of Odisha and Padma Shri awardee Gopinath Swain died Thursday in Odisha’s Ganjam district, family sources said.

He was 107 years old.

Swain died at his home in Gobindpur. He was suffering from old-age-related ailments, they said.

He was conferred with the Padma Shri in 2024 and the Sangeet Natak Academy award in 2023.

Swain, well known as Guru (master) in the locality, as he had trained several of his students about the Krishna Leela.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik, state Transport minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena and several political leaders and artists expressed grief at Swain’s death.

With the death of Swain, Odisha has lost a noted folk artist, said the chief minister.

Born in 1918, Swa

See Full Page