Solapur, Jan. 26 -- Folk artist Raghuveer Khedkar has been named among the Padma Shri awardees for 2026.

The honour has come as a big moment for the veteran artist, who has spent more than five decades working for the Tamasha folk theatre tradition of Maharashtra.

Khedkar is known for keeping the Tamasha art form alive and taking it beyond the state. From a young age, he learned the craft from his mother and later carried her work forward. Over the years, he has led a Tamasha troupe and trained many young performers to keep the tradition strong.

After the announcement, Khedkar spoke about his feelings and said the news still feels unreal to him. He spoke about his long journey and how thankful he feels that his work has been recognised...