Renowned Pandavani folk artist and Padma Vibhushan awardee Teejan Bai passed away at AIIMS Raipur on July 5, 2026 at 3:15 am, after a prolonged illness (lung infection, sepsis, acute kidney injury). She was 70. Born in 1956 in Ganiyari village, Durg district, Chhattisgarh, she belonged to the Pardhi Scheduled Tribe. At just 13, she gave her first public performance and became the first woman to perform Pandavani in the Kapalika (standing) style, breaking gender norms. PM Modi described her passing as 'an irreplaceable loss to the world of art and culture.' She received the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan — all three Padma awards.
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Padma Vibhushan Teejan Bai, Pandavani Legend Who Took Chhattisgarh's Folk Art to World Stage, Passes Away at 70
Key Points
- Renowned Pandavani folk artist and Padma Vibhushan awardee Teejan Bai passed away at AIIMS Raipur on July 5, 2026 at 3:15 am, after a prolonged illness (lung infection, sepsis, acute kidney injury)
- Born in 1956 in Ganiyari village, Durg district, Chhattisgarh, she belonged to the Pardhi Scheduled Tribe
- At just 13, she gave her first public performance and became the first woman to perform Pandavani in the Kapalika (standing) style, breaking gender norms
- PM Modi described her passing as 'an irreplaceable loss to the world of art and culture.' She received the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan — all three Padma awards
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• Teejan Bai: passed away July 5, 2026; AIIMS Raipur; age 70; Pandavani folk artist • Born 1956, Ganiyari, Durg, Chhattisgarh; Pardhi Scheduled Tribe; first woman in Kapalika style • Awards: Padma Shri + Padma Bhushan + Padma Vibhushan; Sangeet Natak Akademi Award • Pandavani: Chhattisgarh folk storytelling on Mahabharata; ektara/tambura accompaniment
