Teejan Bai Demise

July 8 , 2026 7 hrs 0 min 11 0

Teejan Bai, the renowned exponent of Pandavani, a traditional Chhattisgarhi folk art form based on the musical narration of the Mahabharata, died at the age of 70 in Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
Teejan Bai was born on 24 April 1956 in Ganiyari village of Durg district, Chhattisgarh, and received early training in Pandavani from her maternal grandfather, Brajlal Pardha.
She popularised the Kapalika style of Pandavani by performing in a standing position with acting, dialogue, expressions, and singing, unlike the traditional sitting Vedamati style.
She received India’s major civilian honours, including Padma Shri (1988), Padma Bhushan (2003), and Padma Vibhushan (2019).
Pandavani is a traditional folk theatre and musical storytelling form of Chhattisgarh that narrates episodes from the Indian epic Mahabharata using instruments like the Tanpura (stringed instrument).