The Sahyadri Navratna Awards 2002 were conceived as as a way of honouring Maharashtrians from diverse fields, on one platform.

The awards are the first ever honour to recognise nine outstanding Marathi achievers from different walks of life such as film, music, theatre, television, sports, social work, business and media.

An eminent jury panel of industry professionals and experts was constituted to independently shortlist the nominations for the various categories. The idea was to seek gems of excellence from the sea of talent that is Maharashtra. Our partners in the venture, DD Sahyadri, the regional terrestrial channel of pubcaster Doordarshan will telecast the function on 1 May, Mahashtra Divas, at 3 pm.

The awards -

Swar Ratna -- For excellence in music
Chitra Ratna -- For excellence in cinema
Ratna Vahini - To recognize outstanding Marathi Television Channel
Natya Ratna -- For excellence in theatre
Ratna Saurabh -- For excellence in sports
Seva Ratna -- To recognize work rendered to the cause of people
Ratna Darpan - For outstanding achievement in Media.
Ratna Sharda - To recognize achievements by a woman in any field.
Vaibhav Ratna - For outstanding achievement in Industry/Business.

The Statuette -

The principles behind the Sahyadri Navratna awards 2002 have been kept in mind while designing the statuette. After extended deliberations, it was decided that the statuette would resemble a female form, dressed in typical Maharashtrian nau vari saree, holding the pallu aloft in a celebration of life.

The statuette is a symbol of all the Maharashtrian holds sacrosanct. The outstretched arms signify his costant search for excellence and a yearning for goals yet unachieved. The figure is however, firmly bound to its roots, unwavering in its dedication and commitment to values and a culture lovingly cherished. The graceful figure is also a reminder of the letter S, for Sahyadri, the range that defines Maharashtrian nature and the TV channel that holds their interest.