Legendary Pandavani Exponent Teejan Bai Passes Away at 70
She is the only person in Chhattisgarh to have been awarded with Padma Vibhushan.
Raipur: Legendary Pandavani exponent and Padma Vibhushan awardee Teejan Bai, who catapulted the traditional folk art of rural Chhattisgarh to international stage, passed away at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Raipur, early on Sunday morning following prolonged illness.
She was 70.
A tall figure in the Indian art and culture arena, Teeja Bai used to mesmerize her audiences worldwide with her unique singing style with a powerful voice, and poetic movements on the stage with her fingers playing on strings of her signature ‘tambura’, a traditional stringed musical instrument, simultaneously.
She took to the stage at the age of 13 and used to give performances till she was bedridden due to serious illness around a year before her death.
She was honoured with Padma Shri (1988), Padma Bhushan (2003) and Padma Vibhushan (2019) by the government of India for her immense contribution to folk art.
She is the only person in Chhattisgarh to have been awarded with Padma Vibhushan.
Expressing deep grief over her demise, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a post on social media, “I am deeply saddened by the passing away of the renowned Pandavani singer Teejan Bai ji. Through her grand performances, she gave this folk-art form of Chhattisgarh a unique identity across the world. Her departure is an irreparable loss to the world of art and culture. In this hour of grief, my condolences are with her family and admirers. Om Shanti!”
Pandavani is a folk art involving narration of epic Mahabharat accompanied with playing of a traditional stringed musical instrument.
Chhattisgarh chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai mourned the death of Teejan Bai.
In his message, he said, “In Teejan Bai’s demise, Chhattisgarh has lost one of the most precious voices of its cultural identity. Through her powerful storytelling, evocative folk renditions, and unmatched stage performances, she brought the tales of Mahabharat alive for generations, taking the folk art, Pandavani, from village courtyards to some of the world’s most prestigious platforms.”
Teejan Bai was admitted to AIIMS, Raipur, on May 27 when she felt difficulty in breathing and subsequently put on ventilator support.
A statement issued by AIIMS, Raipur, said, “In the early hours of July 5, 2026, at approximately 2.45 am, she suffered a cardiac arrest. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was initiated immediately… However, despite all possible efforts, she could not be revived…”.
Born on August eight, 1956 in Atari Patan in Durg district, she started cultivating the art of Pandavani singing at the age of 13 under the tutelage of her grandfather, Brij Lal Pardhi.
She gave her first performance at the village of Chandrakhuri in Durg district at the age of 13 and later at Bharat Bhavan in Bhopal, marking the beginning of her illustrious career in folk singing.
She gave performances across the country and abroad, spreading the folk art of rural Chhattisgarh to nations like France, Switzerland, Germany, England, Malta, Cyprus, Tunisia, Italy, Yemen, Bangladesh and Mauritius.