Muslim girl wins Odisha CM’s trophy for painting on Nabakalebara

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Baleswar/Bhubaneswar, May 7:

Weeks after a Muslim school girl in Mumbai won a Gita recitation competition, a Muslim girl in Odisha has won the Chief Minister’s trophy for her painting on the Nabakalebara of Lord Jagannath.

Sarifuna Quadri hailing from Sunhat in Baleswar was adjudged the winner of the painting competition won the Chief Minister’s Trophy in the junior category recently.

She impressed one and all with her creation on Nabakalebar proving in the process that art transcends religion.

“I love painting and it gives me immense pleasure. As an artist, I love Jagannath and have been doing paintings on Him since my school days,” Sarifuna said.

Saifuna’s father—Seikh Amanulla– is a senior official in Railways and has lent immense support to her to chase her passion. Sarifuna aspires to make it big in the field of fine arts.

She has tasted success since her childhood. When she was in Class V, she had participated in a national-level painting competition held in Kolkata where she bagged top honours. In 2011, when she was in Class IX, she had won third prize in the state-level competition. However, she ranks the winning of the Chief Minister’s Trophy competition as her biggest achievement till date.

A state-level competition was conducted by the Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi and Odisha Lalit Kala Akademi in junior and senior categories for Plus Two and Plus Three students on April 30 at two locations—Rabindra Mandap and Panthanivas – here. The shortlisted candidates showcased their talent in the category of dance, song, acting, painting and music among others. Around 240 students from across the state participated in it. The winners were awarded at a glittering ceremony at Rabindra Mandap here on May 1.