India, July 5 -- India has lost one of its most celebrated folk artists with the passing of Padma Vibhushan awardee Teejan Bai, the legendary exponent of Pandavani, at the age of 70. She died at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Raipur, after battling a prolonged illness.

Teejan Bai was widely credited with transforming Pandavani-a traditional storytelling art form based on the Mahabharata from Chhattisgarh-into a globally recognised cultural tradition through her powerful performances and distinctive style.

Born in Chhattisgarh's Durg district, Teejan Bai began performing at a young age and broke social barriers by becoming one of the first women to perform Pandavani in the dynamic Kapalik style, traditionally domina...