India, Jan. 25 -- Two folk artists from Rajasthan were honoured with the Padma Shri award in 2026 under the 'unsung heroes' category on Sunday.

The awardees are Gafruddin Mewati Jogi, a 68-year-old from Rajasthan's Mewat who plays the bhapang, and Taga Ram Bheel, a resident of Mool Sagar near Jaisalmer, who plays the algoza.

Jogi, who started learning the instrument from his father at the age of four, said, "The traditional culture of the Mewati Jogi community is a mix of Hindus and Muslims. I have been performing Pandun Ka Kada gana for over 50 years now. I know over 2,500 couplets, specifically depicting various stories from the Mahabharata, which I inherited from my family."

In 2024, Jogi was also honoured by the President at the Sa...