CM Sai pays tribute to Teejan Bai at Pandavani Mahasammelan
Synopsis
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai paid tribute to the late Pandavani legend Teejan Bai at the Pandavani Mahasammelan in Ahiwara, Durg, and announced that the Chhattisgarh Rajyotsav will confer a new Alankar Samman in her name.
Key Takeaways
CM Vishnu Deo Sai paid tribute to the late Teejan Bai at the Pandavani Mahasammelan in Ahiwara, Durg on 24 October 2026 .
A new Alankar Samman in Teejan Bai's name will be conferred at the upcoming Chhattisgarh Rajyotsav .
Teejan Bai was a recipient of the Padma Shri (1988) and Padma Bhushan (2019) for her role in preserving Pandavani.
The event also featured the inauguration and foundation-laying of development works in Ahiwara.
The announcement formally institutionalises Teejan Bai's name as a benchmark for Chhattisgarhi folk art recognition.
At a gathering that brought the soul of Chhattisgarh's oldest storytelling tradition centre stage, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai paid a heartfelt tribute to the late Teejan Bai — the legendary Pandavani singer who made a folk art form from a central Indian village known across the world. Speaking at the Pandavani Mahasammelan in Ahiwara, Durg district, on Saturday, 24 October 2026, the Chief Minister's Office of Chhattisgarh also announced that this year's Chhattisgarh Rajyotsav will carry a special honour in Teejan Bai's name.
In his address, CM Sai said: 'Pandavani Mahasammelan ke avasar par swargiya Teejan Bai ji ko vinram shraddhanjali arpit karta hoon' — 'On the occasion of the Pandavani Mahasammelan, I humbly offer my tribute to the late Teejan Bai.' He added that at this year's Rajyotsav, an Alankar Samman — a decoration honour — will be conferred in her name, cementing her legacy in the state's highest cultural calendar.
Teejan Bai: the voice who carried the Mahabharata barefoot
Few artists in India's folk tradition achieved what Teejan Bai did. Born in the villages of Chhattisgarh, she mastered Pandavani — the dramatic, solo performance of Mahabharata episodes rooted in the Kapardhik style — and took it from rural courtyards to international concert stages. The Government of India recognised her with the Padma Shri in 1988 and the Padma Bhushan in 2019. She was not just an artist; she was the living institution that Pandavani needed to survive modernity.
Rajyotsav honour: what the Alankar Samman in her name means
The Chhattisgarh Rajyotsav, the state's annual foundation day celebration, is the most prominent platform the government uses to confer cultural and developmental awards. Naming a new decoration honour after Teejan Bai elevates the award beyond routine recognition — it ties the recipient's achievement to a standard she personally set. For folk artists across the state, the announcement signals that Pandavani performance is not a relic but a living discipline the government intends to actively reward and sustain.
Ahiwara, Durg: development inaugurations alongside the cultural tribute
The Mahasammelan in Ahiwara was not only a cultural event. CM Sai also presided over the inauguration and foundation-laying of various development works in the area, linking cultural recognition with infrastructure investment — a pattern successive Chhattisgarh administrations have used to signal that district-level development and heritage preservation go hand in hand. Durg district, home to Ahiwara, sits in the industrialised belt of central Chhattisgarh, making the choice of venue a deliberate bridge between the state's industrial identity and its folk roots.
The announcement of the Teejan Bai Alankar Samman now sets up the Rajyotsav as a moment to watch — the first time the state formally institutionalises her name as a benchmark for Pandavani excellence.
Point of View
The Sai government signals continuity with the state's folk-arts patronage tradition while creating a new high-visibility platform at the state's most-watched annual event. The choice of Ahiwara, a town in the industrialised Durg belt, to host both the cultural tribute and development inaugurations reflects a well-worn formula: pair soft-power cultural recognition with visible infrastructure spending to speak simultaneously to two distinct voter constituencies. The real test will come when the award's selection criteria and process are made public — that will determine whether the honour becomes a meaningful cultural institution or a seasonal ceremonial gesture.
NationPress
24 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Teejan Bai and why is she famous?
Teejan Bai was a celebrated Chhattisgarhi folk artist renowned for popularising Pandavani, a solo narrative performance tradition based on Mahabharata episodes. She received the Padma Shri in 1988 and the Padma Bhushan in 2019 for her contribution to Indian folk arts.
What is Pandavani folk art?
Pandavani is a traditional Chhattisgarhi folk performance art in which a solo artist narrates episodes from the Mahabharata, typically accompanied by a tanpura or similar instrument, blending singing, acting, and storytelling.
What award is being given in Teejan Bai's name at Rajyotsav?
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai announced that an Alankar Samman — a decoration honour — will be conferred in the name of the late Teejan Bai at the upcoming Chhattisgarh Rajyotsav, the state's annual foundation day celebration.
Where was the Pandavani Mahasammelan 2026 held?
The Pandavani Mahasammelan was held in Ahiwara, a town in Durg district, Chhattisgarh, on 24 October 2026.
What is Chhattisgarh Rajyotsav?
Chhattisgarh Rajyotsav is the annual state foundation day celebration, typically marked by cultural programmes and government award ceremonies, where the state government honours achievements in culture, development, and public service.
