New Delhi, Oct. 19 -- Himachal Pradesh folk singer, lyricist, composer and actor Inder Jeet has been conferred the prestigious Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar 2024 by the Sangeet Natak Akademi for his contribution to folk music. Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat presented him with the award at a ceremony in New Delhi on Monday.

Hailing from Doghari village in Kullu district, Inder Jeet has been working for several years to preserve and promote Himachal Pradesh's traditional folk music, local dialects and cultural heritage. Despite having no formal training in music, he has carved a distinct identity in the field and popularised the state's rich folk traditions.

With several traditional folk songs and cultural practices ...