Gayaka Bisarada
Sachidananda Dash
Born in 1972 into a devout Brahmin family in Sudusailo, Cuttack, Gayaka Sachidananda Dash is a distinguished "Gayaka Bisarada" of the traditional Odia art form, Pala, whose journey was deeply inspired by his father, the Late Brahmananda Dash, a renowned Pala Gayak himself. From childhood, he possessed a natural flair for art, singing, drama, acting, kirtan, and poetry, which eventually led him to prioritize his passion over formal academics; after completing his Plus Two education, he dropped out of college and later left the Maharshi Beda Bigyan School in Delhi to fully commit to his craft. Influenced by the legendary styles of Prahalad Sahoo and Laxmidhar Rout in 1993, he underwent rigorous training under the tutelage of Guru Madan Mohan Jena and formally launched his professional career in 1995. Over the last three decades, he has performed in almost every district of Odisha as well as in neighboring states like Jharkhand and West Bengal, earning immense respect for his mastery in "Badi Pala" (intellectual musical duels) alongside legends such as Amar Das, Datakrishna Panda, and his own guru. A prominent member of leading Pala associations, Sachidananda Dash is celebrated for his command over Sanskrit slokas and the works of Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja, and he continues to preserve this cultural heritage by having trained approximately 20 to 30 aspiring male and female performers (Gayakas and Gayikas).
Gayaka Yuba Jyoti
Benudhara Sahoo
Born in 1982 in Nariso, Khurda, Odisha, into a farming family led by his father Bhagyadhar Sahoo, Gayaka Benudhara Sahoo is an active Pala performer honored with the title "Yuba Jyoti." A literature graduate, his journey into the arts began in 2002 after witnessing a captivating kirtan performance by Gayaka Surendra Swain, which inspired him to join Swain's group as a Sangita. He later joined Gayaka Dusmanta Behera's team before undergoing formal training between 2008 and 2009 under Guru Ugrasena Padhi and his primary Guru, Gayaka Sudhakar Madan Mohan Jena. Over his 24-year career, he has performed across every district of Odisha, engaging in intellectual "Badi Pala" duels with notable artists like Aditya Swain, Benudhara Saranghi, and Sanja Kumar Panda. A member of the Nilachal Nikhila Pala Gayaka Parisada, he specializes in Bhajan Sahitya and Jagannath Sanskruti, cementing his place as a dedicated and evolving traditional artist.
