IHC Lok Sangeet Sammelan opens with a special Pandavani performance honouring legendary exponent and Padma Vibhushan awardee Teejan Bai
TFP Bureau, New Delhi, August 10, 2026: Chhattisgarh’s rich Pandavani tradition came alive at the India Habitat Centre in the national capital as the IHC Lok Sangeet Sammelan 2026 opened with a special performance dedicated to the memory of legendary Pandavani exponent and Padma Vibhushan awardee, the late Teejan Bai.
Held at the Stein Auditorium of the India Habitat Centre, the performance by Pandavani artist Prabha Yadav and a group of traditional musicians showcased the distinctive storytelling tradition rooted in the Mahabharata. Through a combination of singing, narration, dialogue, rhythm and expressive performance, the artists brought alive the enduring appeal of Pandavani before a Delhi audience.
The programme was attended by representatives of the Chhattisgarh government and prominent personalities from the state’s cultural and artistic fraternity. Senior journalist and Advisor to the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh R. Krishna Das, Dharsewa MLA and noted Chhattisgarhi film personality Anuj Sharma, and Prabal Pratap Singh Judev were among those present. Cultural practitioners and academicians associated with the University of Delhi also attended the event.
Director of India Habitat Centre Prof. (Dr.) K.G. Suresh and Secretary of Anvesha Kala Kendra Anvesha Brahma were also present.
The performance paid tribute to Teejan Bai’s extraordinary contribution to Pandavani and her role in taking the traditional art form from the villages of Chhattisgarh to major national and international platforms. Her distinctive style and artistry helped establish Pandavani as one of India’s prominent traditional performing arts.
The tribute also highlighted the larger significance of folk storytelling traditions, which serve not only as forms of entertainment but also as important mediums for preserving cultural memory, values and traditions and passing them on to future generations.
Prof. (Dr.) K.G. Suresh said India’s folk arts constitute an important part of the country’s cultural heritage as they preserve stories, traditions and values handed down through generations. He emphasised the importance of providing traditional artists and folk art forms with platforms in the national capital to connect them with wider audiences.
Dharsewa MLA Anuj Sharma described Pandavani as an integral part of Chhattisgarh’s cultural identity. He said Teejan Bai had taken the art form from the villages of the state to national and international stages, adding that its recognition and presentation in Delhi was a matter of pride for Chhattisgarh.
Anvesha Brahma said India’s folk traditions carry centuries of history, collective memory and ways of life. Initiatives such as the Lok Sangeet Sammelan, she said, help connect these traditions with contemporary audiences and younger generations.
The IHC Lok Sangeet Sammelan is an annual initiative showcasing folk music, storytelling and performing traditions from different parts of India. The festival provides traditional artists with a platform to present the country’s diverse cultural heritage before wider audiences.
The opening of the 2026 edition with a Pandavani presentation in memory of Teejan Bai was particularly significant, highlighting the continuing relevance of India’s folk traditions. The performance underlined that these art forms are not merely remnants of the past but remain an integral part of India’s cultural identity and creative expression.
For more than 25 years, Anvesha Kala Kendra has been working towards the preservation, promotion and documentation of India’s classical and folk arts through performances, festivals, cultural exchanges and educational initiatives.
