Jagatsinghpur: Pandit Jagannath Behera, one of Odisha's most celebrated exponents of the traditional folk art form Pala and widely revered as the "Pala Samrat", passed away at the age of 101 after a prolonged illness. A resident of Katijanga village under Erasama block in Jagatsinghpur district, Behera had been bedridden for a long time before breathing his last.

Behera developed an interest in Pala during his teenage years. He received training under renowned gurus Harekrushna Nath, Bhagaban Singh and Harekrushna Swain. Though his formal education was limited, he acquired extensive knowledge of Odia, Sanskrit, Bengali, Hindi and English literature, enriching his Pala performances.

For several decades, Behera captivated audiences with his unique presentations of mythological narratives drawn from the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Shrimad Bhagavata and Chandi Purana.

Apart from being a Pala performer, Behera was also a writer, organiser and teacher. He authored two books and penned numerous poems. He served as a member of the General Council of the Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi, president of the All Odisha Pala Gayak Parishad, and president of Jogi Mahapurusha Sanskrit Vidyalaya.

In recognition of his outstanding contribution to folk culture, Behera received several prestigious honours, including the Gayak Guru title in 2006, the Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2007, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for 2009, and the Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja Samman.

Over the years, he mentored numerous disciples who continue to perform Pala across Odisha, carrying forward his artistic legacy and preserving the state's centuries-old folk tradition.