Rakhi Haridas, an IT professional, leadership and transformation coach, Kuchipudi dancer, educator, author and artist, has been honoured as a Winner of the Durga Shakti Award 2026 by Cherry Book Awards. The recognition acknowledges her accomplishments across professional, artistic, literary and educational pursuits, reflecting a life shaped by continuous learning, discipline and creative expression.
Rakhi Haridas Receives the Durga Shakti Award 2026
The Durga Shakti Award 2026 by Cherry Book Awards recognises women whose achievements and personal journeys demonstrate strength, resilience, creativity, excellence and purpose. The recognition brings attention to women who have made meaningful contributions through their professions, artistic pursuits, literary work, leadership or other areas of achievement.
Rakhi Haridas appears to be a fitting recipient of this recognition, with a career and creative journey spanning information technology, professional coaching, Indian classical dance, music, teaching and writing.
Her story reflects the possibilities that emerge when professional ambition exists alongside a sustained commitment to the arts and personal development.
The Journey of Rakhi Haridas
Rakhi Haridas who hails from Trivandrum is an IT professional, currently working with Candescent in Bangalore.
She is an ICF trained leadership and transformation coach helping professionals achieve work life harmony, overcome procrastination and self doubt and create the life of their dreams.
She is an artist, primarily a Kuchipudi dancer but expanded her wings into many art forms. She is undergoing advance training in Kuchipudi under Acharya Guru Deepa Narayanan Sashindran, Kuchipudi Parampara Foundation, Bangalore.
She is the recipient of scholarship from Center for Cultural Resource & Training (CCRT). She also holds a ‘Ganabhooshanam’ diploma in Carnatic Music from Swati Thirunal Music College, Kerala. She has received “Nritya Kala Vidushi” title from International Dance Alley and “Natya Varshini” title from Kalpasheree Performing Arts Center, Mysore. She also teaches Kuchipudi at her dance school Sri Halasyam in Bangalore.
Rakhi Haridas also makes jewellery, does simple Mandala designs for her friends, can do a little of calligraphy, and crafts. She has named herself as a writer too with her debut book Pouring My Heart Out – a collection of 21 poems in 2024. In 2025 she published another book – “Mastering Emotional Agility – A guide to thrive in life and at work” and “Misled Towards Truth” – a crime thriller.
For her contribution to the art and literature field, Rakhi Haridas was presented the Rabindra Ratna Puraskar by Veyil Foundation NGO associated with Govt of India Ministry of Corporate Affairs among many other accolades over the years.
Five Key Reasons Rakhi Haridas Is an Apt Choice For Durga Shakti Award 2026
1. Excellence Across Professional and Creative Fields
Rakhi has built experience across information technology, leadership coaching, education, classical dance, music and literature. Her ability to develop each of these interests reflects considerable versatility and dedication.
2. Dedication to Kuchipudi
Her association with Kuchipudi extends from advanced training to teaching. Her continued learning under an established guru and her work with students at Sri Halasyam demonstrate her active engagement with the classical dance tradition.
3. Leadership and Transformation Coaching
As an ICF trained leadership and transformation coach, Rakhi supports professionals working towards greater work life harmony and personal growth. Her coaching work adds a people focused dimension to her professional profile.
4. A Broad Creative Vocabulary
Dance and literature form only part of Rakhi’s artistic interests. Carnatic music, jewellery making, Mandala designs, calligraphy and crafts further demonstrate her enthusiasm for creative exploration.
5. An Author Across Multiple Genres
Her published works span poetry, personal development and crime fiction. From Pouring My Heart Out to Mastering Emotional Agility and Misled Towards Truth, her writing reflects a willingness to explore different subjects and literary forms.
About the Durga Shakti Award 2026
The Durga Shakti Award 2026 is an initiative by Cherry Book Awards that recognises women for notable achievements, creative contributions, professional accomplishments and journeys marked by strength and purpose.
Drawing inspiration from the symbolism associated with Goddess Durga, the recognition represents qualities such as courage, determination, capability and perseverance. Recipients come from varied backgrounds, reflecting the many ways women contribute to their professions, communities and creative fields.
About Cherry Book Awards
Cherry Book Awards is a literary and recognition platform that provides recognition and visibility to authors, poets, writers, artists and creative contributors.
Its initiatives focus on documenting individual achievements, celebrating creative work and creating opportunities for distinctive voices to receive wider recognition. The Durga Shakti Award 2026 forms part of this broader effort to acknowledge women whose work and experiences offer meaningful stories of achievement and growth.
A Career That Extends Beyond One Discipline
Rakhi Haridas presents an interesting example of how professional and creative pursuits can develop alongside one another. Her work in information technology provides one dimension of her career, while coaching, classical dance, music, teaching and writing have allowed her to explore very different forms of knowledge and expression.
Her commitment to Kuchipudi is particularly notable. Classical dance demands sustained training and discipline, and Rakhi has continued her own artistic development while also passing her knowledge to students.
Her transition into publishing adds another layer to this evolution. Her three books explore distinctly different formats and subjects, taking her from poetry to personal development and then into crime fiction.
Together, these pursuits demonstrate a consistent willingness to learn, experiment and grow.
A Recognition of Purpose and Possibility
The Durga Shakti Award 2026 places emphasis on the stories behind achievement. In Rakhi Haridas’s case, that story encompasses technology, leadership, classical arts, education and literature.
Her recognition by Cherry Book Awards acknowledges the breadth of these contributions while highlighting the importance of women who continue to create, learn and evolve across different stages of life.
Conclusion
The recognition of Rakhi Haridas as a Winner of the Durga Shakti Award 2026 by Cherry Book Awards marks an important moment in her journey across technology, leadership, classical arts and literature.
From her professional career and coaching practice to her dedication to Kuchipudi, Carnatic music, teaching and writing, Rakhi has consistently pursued opportunities for learning and creative expression.
Her journey appears to represent the spirit behind the Durga Shakti Award 2026 through determination, versatility and the courage to pursue more than one definition of success.
For Rakhi Haridas, this recognition adds another meaningful chapter to a journey that continues to evolve through professional achievement, artistic discipline and a lasting passion for creativity.
