Pandavani legend Teejan Bai dies at AIIMS Raipur
Padma Vibhushan awardee Teejan Bai, the foremost exponent of Chhattisgarh's Pandavani folk narration of the Mahabharata, died at AIIMS Raipur on 5 July 2026 after a prolonged illness.
Summary
Teejan Bai, the Pandavani folk singer, died at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Raipur in the early hours of 5 July 2026 after a prolonged illness; the hospital declared her dead at 3.15 am. She had been admitted on 27 May. Pandavani is Chhattisgarh's traditional musical narration of episodes from the Mahabharata, an art form traditionally performed by men, and Teejan Bai took it to audiences across India and the world. She received the Padma Shri, the Padma Bhushan and, in 2019, the Padma Vibhushan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said she gave Chhattisgarh's folk art a unique identity across the world, and Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai called her passing an irreparable loss.
Key facts
- Died
- 5 July 2026, AIIMS Raipur (declared dead 3.15 am)
- Art form
- Pandavani: musical narration of the Mahabharata, Chhattisgarh
- Honours
- Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan (2019, Art-Vocals-Folk)
- Tributes
- PM Narendra Modi; CM Vishnu Deo Sai
Practice MCQs 4 questions
Teejan Bai, who died on 5 July 2026, was the best-known exponent of Pandavani. Pandavani narrates episodes from which epic?
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Correct answer: A — Mahabharata
Pandavani is the traditional Chhattisgarhi musical narration of episodes from the Mahabharata.
Pandavani, the folk art form taken to the world by Teejan Bai, belongs to which state?
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Correct answer: C — Chhattisgarh
PM Modi said Teejan Bai gave the Pandavani folk art form of Chhattisgarh a unique identity across the world.
In which year was Teejan Bai conferred the Padma Vibhushan?
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Correct answer: D — 2019
The MHA press note of 25 January 2019 lists Ms. Teejan Bai (Art-Vocals-Folk, Chhattisgarh) first among the four Padma Vibhushan awardees of 2019.
Consider the following statements about Teejan Bai: 1. She died at AIIMS Raipur on 5 July 2026. 2. Pandavani, her art form, narrates episodes from the Ramayana. 3. She was a Padma Vibhushan awardee. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 3 only
She died at AIIMS Raipur on 5 July 2026 and was a Padma Vibhushan awardee; Pandavani narrates the Mahabharata, not the Ramayana.