HP CM Office mourns folk artist Phulan Chandel's passing
Synopsis
The Chief Minister's Office of Himachal Pradesh on 27 September 2026 mourned the passing of Phulan Chandel, a folk artist from Ghumarwin, Bilaspur, who dedicated her life to promoting Himachali folk dance and traditions across India and the world.
Key Takeaways
The Chief Minister's Office of Himachal Pradesh issued an official condolence on 27 September 2026 for folk artist Phulan Chandel .
Chandel hailed from Ghumarwin, Bilaspur district in Himachal Pradesh.
She was honoured for making Himachali folk culture and folk dance her life's sadhana (devoted practice).
The official tribute credits her with taking Himachal's folk traditions to audiences across India and abroad .
Her passing represents a significant loss to Himachal's community of folk performing artists.
A voice that carried the hills of Himachal to the world has gone silent. The Chief Minister's Office of Himachal Pradesh on Sunday, 27 September 2026, expressed deep grief over the passing of Phulan Chandel, a celebrated folk artist from Ghumarwin, Bilaspur district, who spent her life as a devoted keeper of Himachali folk tradition.
The official post described her passing as 'atyant dukhad' — profoundly sorrowful — and honoured her as someone who had made Himachali folk culture and folk dance her sadhana, her life's calling. Through her art, the statement said, she carried the living traditions of Himachal Pradesh to audiences across India and the world.
A life in service of living tradition
Phulan Chandel belonged to Ghumarwin, a town in the Bilaspur district nestled in the lower Himalayan foothills, a region with a rich and distinct tradition of folk performance. She dedicated herself specifically to Himachali folk dance — forms rooted in seasonal festivals, agricultural rhythms, and mountain community life — and is remembered not as a performer alone but as a practitioner who kept the form alive through disciplined devotion. Himachal Pradesh's intangible cultural heritage has long depended on artists like her: individuals who learn from elders, transmit to younger generations, and carry local traditions onto stages far beyond the village square. The state government has periodically acknowledged such contributors, recognising that folk performing arts face the sustained pressure of cultural homogenisation.What the official tribute signals
An official condolence from the Chief Minister's Office carries weight beyond protocol. It places Phulan Chandel firmly in the category of artists the state considers integral to Himachal's cultural identity — figures whose work has public value and public loss. The tribute may also precede announcements of memorial events or state cultural programmes in her honour. For the Himachali folk community, her passing is a moment to take stock of what she left behind — not just performances, but a demonstration that regional tradition, taken seriously and carried with dedication, can travel far.Point of View
A memorial programme, a documentation initiative — follows the words of mourning.
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 her lifelong dedication to Himachali folk dance and the promotion of local folk traditions across India and internationally.
Why did the Himachal Pradesh CM Office issue a condolence for Phulan Chandel?
The Chief Minister's Office of Himachal Pradesh issued an official condolence recognising her significant contribution to the state's folk culture and her role in carrying Himachali traditions to national and global audiences.
What is Ghumarwin known for?
Ghumarwin is a town in Bilaspur district in the lower Himalayan foothills of Himachal Pradesh, known for its distinct folk performance traditions rooted in seasonal and agricultural community life.
What kind of folk art did Phulan Chandel practise?
Phulan Chandel was dedicated to Himachali folk dance and the broader folk cultural traditions of Himachal Pradesh, performing and promoting these art forms throughout her life.
Will there be a state memorial for Phulan Chandel?
No official announcement of a memorial has been made yet. However, such tributes from the Chief Minister's Office often precede state cultural programmes or honours dedicated to the departed artist.
