Guwahati, July 5 -- Padma Vibhushan awardee and legendary Pandavani exponent Teejan Bai passed away on Sunday at the age of 70 after a prolonged illness, leaving India's cultural fraternity mourning the loss of one of its most celebrated folk artists.

Teejan Bai breathed her last at around 3.15 am at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Raipur, where she had been undergoing treatment since late May, hospital officials said.

Widely regarded as the face of Pandavani, the traditional storytelling art form of Chhattisgarh based on episodes from the Mahabharata, Teejan Bai transformed the centuries-old folk tradition into a globally recognised performing art. Her powerful voice, dramatic stage presence and distinctive perfo...