CM Sukhu mourns folk artist Phulan Chandel of Bilaspur
Synopsis
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu mourned the death of Phulan Chandel, a folk artist from Ghumarwin, Bilaspur, who devoted her life to promoting Himachali folk dance and traditions at national and international platforms.
Key Takeaways
Phulan Chandel , a folk artist from Ghumarwin, Bilaspur , has passed away.
CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu expressed condolences on September 27, 2026 .
Chandel was recognised for carrying Himachali folk dance and traditions to national and global audiences.
CM Sukhu described her death as an 'irreplaceable loss' ( apooraniya kshati ) to the world of folk art.
Himachal Pradesh has active state programmes supporting and documenting its distinct folk heritage.
A voice that carried the hills of Himachal to audiences across India has been silenced. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Sunday, September 27, 2026, mourned the passing of Phulan Chandel, a celebrated folk artist from Ghumarwin, Bilaspur, calling her death an irreplaceable loss to the world of folk art.
In his condolence message posted on X, CM Sukhu described Phulan Chandel as someone who had made Himachali folk culture and folk dance her sadhana — a devoted spiritual pursuit. 'She carried Himachal's folk traditions to the country and the world through her art,' he wrote, praying for peace for her soul and strength for her bereaved family.
A life devoted to Himachali folk traditions
Phulan Chandel was rooted in the cultural landscape of Bilaspur district, one of Himachal Pradesh's smaller but culturally rich regions. She dedicated her life to practising and propagating the folk dances and traditions that define the state's intangible cultural heritage — forms passed down through generations and deeply tied to local festivals, seasonal rhythms, and community memory.
Himachal Pradesh is home to a distinct constellation of folk expressions — from the nati dance, recognised among the world's largest folk dances, to lesser-known regional forms that artists like Chandel kept alive through performance and mentorship. Carrying these traditions beyond local stages to national platforms is work that rarely earns headlines but forms the bedrock of cultural continuity.
The loss the CM named: 'irreplaceable'
Chief ministers in India routinely issue condolence statements for prominent regional artists, acknowledging the state's stake in its living cultural inheritance. But Sukhu's phrasing — 'apooraniya kshati', or irreplaceable loss — signals the weight attached to Chandel's contribution. Folk artists who bridge village tradition and wider public visibility are rare, and their passing leaves gaps no institutional programme can simply fill.
Himachal Pradesh maintains active state-level frameworks to document and present its folk heritage, and the cultural community will be watching whether the government moves toward posthumous recognition or additional support for Chandel's family under existing welfare provisions for artists.
Phulan Chandel spent her life making Himachal's folk soul visible to the world — the least the world can do now is remember her name.
Point of View
Part politics of cultural identity. For Himachal Pradesh, where folk traditions are both a heritage asset and a soft-power marker for tourism and national identity, mourning artists like Chandel is also a statement about what the state values. The phrase 'irreplaceable loss' carries implicit pressure on the administration to follow words with action — whether posthumous honours or enhanced welfare for folk artists. Cultural recognition in India often begins with condolence; what matters is whether policy follows.
NationPress
27 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Phulan Chandel?
Phulan Chandel was a folk artist from Ghumarwin in Bilaspur district, Himachal Pradesh, known for practising and promoting Himachali folk dance and cultural traditions at national and international platforms.
What did CM Sukhu say about Phulan Chandel's death?
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu called her death an irreplaceable loss to the world of folk art, noting she had made Himachali folk culture her life's devoted pursuit and carried its traditions across the country and world.
Where was Phulan Chandel from?
Phulan Chandel was from Ghumarwin, located in Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh.
What is Himachali folk dance?
Himachali folk dance refers to traditional dance forms practised in Himachal Pradesh, including the celebrated 'nati', which is considered one of the world's largest folk dance traditions, along with various regional forms tied to local festivals and community life.
Will the Himachal government honour Phulan Chandel posthumously?
No official announcement of posthumous honours has been made yet. The state has existing cultural welfare provisions, and observers are watching whether the government extends recognition or family support in the wake of the CM's condolence.
