NEW DELHI: Eminent vocalist Girija Devi and dhrupad maestro Rahim Fahimuddin Dagar received the highest honour of Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship (Akademi Ratna Sadasyata) for their contribution to the culture of art and music.

The music maestros were honoured with cash of Rs 3,00,000, an angavastram and a tamrapatra. Mridangam vidwan TK Murthy was also conferred with the fellowship. Culture Minister Kumari Selja was present on the occasion.

These honours for performing artistes are judged by the Akademi's general council, the apex body consisting of eminent artists, scholars and nominees of the Government of India.

Other artist honoured with the awards are Chhanu Lal Mishra and Yashpaul for Hindustani Vocal Music, Budhaditya Mukherjee (Sitar) and Nityanand Haldipur (Flute) for Hindustani Instrumental Music, Suguna Purushothaman and Mysore Nagamani Srinath for Carnatic Vocal music, Nagai R Muralidharan (Violin) and Srimushnam V Rajarao (Mridangam) for Carnatic Instrumental Music, MV Simhachala Sastry (Harikatha) for other major traditions of music and S Rajeswari was awarded for music for dance – Bharatanatyam.

Awards were also given for contribution to other traditional, folk, tribal music, dance and theatre forms.