Pandavani Exponent Teejan Bai Dies in Raipur

Legendary folk singer and Pandavani exponent Teejan Bai dies in Raipur on July 5, 2026, at the age of 70. Teejan Bai is a Padma Vibhushan awardee, and her passing is reported as a current event linked to Indian art and culture.

Pandavani and Teejan Bai : 

Dimension	Key Details
Identity	Teejan Bai is a legendary folk singer, and a Pandavani exponent.
Community	Teejan Bai belongs to the Pardhi Scheduled Tribe.
Pandavani style performed	Teejan Bai performs the highly physical “Kapalik” style of Pandavani, which is traditionally restricted to men.
Awards and honours (years)	Teejan Bai receives the following honours: Padma Shri (1988), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1995), Padma Bhushan (2003), and Padma Vibhushan (2019).
Art form and region	Pandavani is an ancient musical narration of the Mahabharata from Chhattisgarh.
Etymology	The word “Pandavani” is derived from “Pandava” and “Vani,” translating literally to “the voice of the Pandavas.”
Content focus	Pandavani comprises selected high-drama episodes focusing on themes of heroism, duty (dharma), justice, and devotion.
Central character focus	The adventures of Bhima typically occupy the central focus of local versions of Pandavani.
Language and performance elements	The performance is rendered in the Chhattisgarhi dialect, and relies on musical accompaniment, dramatic voice modulation, and facial expressions.
Format and instruments	Pandavani is typically a solo-lead theatrical act supported by a chorus of musicians playing the tabla, harmonium, manjira, and kartal.