Durg (Chhattisgarh), Jul 5: Legendary Pandavani exponent Teejan Bai was cremated with full state honours at her native Ganiyari village in Chhattisgarh’s Durg district on Sunday, as hundreds gathered to bid farewell to the voice that carried the ‘Mahabharata’ to the world.
The 70‑year‑old Padma Vibhushan awardee, who passed away in Raipur after a prolonged illness and left an indelible mark on Chhattisgarh’s cultural identity, was cremated amid an outpouring of grief.
Folk artists, admirers and public representatives thronged the village cremation ground where Teejan Bai’s mortal remains, draped in the tricolour, were kept for the last rites.
Her son, Dilharan Pardhi, lit the funeral pyre, while police personnel accorded ceremonial honours.
For many present, it was not just the farewell of a performer, but of a storyteller whose voice had become the heartbeat of Chhattisgarh’s folk tradition.
Among those who paid floral tributes were Chhattisgarh School Education Minister Gajendra Yadav, BJP MP Vijay Baghel and former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel.
Teejan Bai brought international recognition to Chhattisgarh’s Pandavani tradition, Bhupesh Baghel said and recalled watching her performances during his school days.
She died early on Sunday at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Raipur, where she had been undergoing treatment since May 27.
Born in 1956 in Ganiyari village of Durg district, Teejan Bai overcame poverty and social barriers to emerge as the country’s most celebrated Pandavani artist.
Known for her powerful voice, dramatic narration and expressive performances, she transformed the traditional folk storytelling form into an internationally acclaimed art.
She was honoured with the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan for her outstanding contribution to Indian folk arts.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled her death, saying she had given Chhattisgarh’s folk art a distinct global identity through her performances.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai described her demise as an irreparable loss to the state’s cultural heritage, while former CM Bhupesh Baghel said her contribution to preserving and popularising Pandavani would be remembered for generations. (PTI)
