Gopinath Swain Passes Away - Odisha Krishna Leela Folk Dance Guru 2025

Introduction:

Berhampur, Odisha- October 2,2025- Odisha is saying goodbye to one of its most valuable cultural symbols, Padma Shri awardee Gopinath Swain. The final surviving Guru of the almost dying Krishna Leela folk dance died in Ganjam district, his birthplace was Govindapur village at the incredible age of 107 years. He dedicated his entire life to the art form, and his legacy to generations to come will be an ever-present reminder of its existence centuries old.

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Main Content:

Key Updates / Highlights

Gopinath Swain died in his village of Ganjam in Sheragada block, Govindapur village, at 6.40 am on October 2, 2025, at his home.

He had just come home after visiting AIIMS Bhubaneswar, where he was receiving treatment due to age related ailments.

Swain ji dedicated his more than nine decades of life to the performance, writing and maintenance of Krishna Leela, which is a traditional folk dance that enacts the divine plays of Lord Krishna.

He started at 10 years old as Krishna, then played Yashoda and finally took over as the main singer, director and the saintly Guru of the school.

In the 1940s and 1950s he further perfected his art under senior gurus such as Akula Padhi, Harihara, Bhabani Patra, and Tarini Chandra Patra.

He was awarded Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian award in India, in appreciation of his historic contributions.

Other Details / History.

Fearing the disappearance of the original ragas and traditional styles, Swain ji dedicated 30 years of his life to gathering and restoring ragas 500600 years old by the time they became part of the Krishna Leela, so that the originality of the performances and their authenticity are ensured.

His work has not just helped to conserve the cultural heritage of Odisha, but also motivated many young artists to continue with the legacy of Krishna Leela.

The life and work of Swain ji reminds us of the eternal strength of art to act across the generations and preserve traditions.

Conclusion:

The death of Gopinath Swain is a great loss to Odisha and Indian folk arts in general. He is devoted to Krishna Leela and this eternal tradition keeps on inspiring. To continue to know about Odisha culture and heritage, follow our blog.