States » NorthPosted at: Oct 24 2026 11:23PM


CM Sai announces art village in honour of Teejan Bai, ₹17.5 lakh incentive for folk troupes

Raipur, Oct 24 (UNI) Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Saturday announced plans to develop Ganiyari, the native village of renowned Pandwani exponent Teejan Bai, as an art village. He also announced that the village’s high school would be named after the late Padma Vibhushan awardee and that a state folk art award would be instituted in her name.
Addressing a Pandwani Mahasammelan at Banbarad village in Durg district’s Ahiwara on International Artists’ Day, Sai said the state’s folk traditions reflected its history, values and cultural identity.
Preserving these art forms and passing them on to future generations is a collective responsibility, he said.
The Chief Minister said the government is working to promote folk arts, support artists and provide them with wider platforms.
Welcoming performers from across Chhattisgarh, he said their talent and dedication have brought recognition to the state’s cultural heritage across India and abroad.
Remembering Teejan Bai, Sai said her dedication had given Pandwani a distinct global identity.
The traditional art form brings episodes and characters from the Mahabharata to life through singing, acting and expressive gestures.
Teejan Bai had taken the form to audiences on stages around the world, bringing recognition to Chhattisgarh, he said.
Sai also announced that a Lokkala Alankaran Award in Teejan Bai’s name would be conferred during the state’s Rajyotsav celebrations from this year.
The award, he said, would honour her contribution while encourage other folk artists to preserve and carry forward traditional art forms.
Responding to a request from the organisers, Sai announced an incentive of ₹25,000 each for the 70 troupes participating in the Mahasammelan, taking the total assistance to ₹17.5 lakh.
The participants included Pandwani performers, four Panthi troupes and three tribal dance troupes.
Praising Gyanshrot Lok Kala Manch for its 46 years of work in preserving folk arts, Sai said the organisation has helped keep traditional forms alive, provide a platform for artists and connect younger generations with their cultural roots.
He congratulated Padma Shri awardee Usha Barle and others associated with the organisation for organising the event.
The Chief Minister said the government is creating new opportunities for local artists and the Chhattisgarhi film industry. The Chhattisgarh Film Development Board has been constituted to provide a wider platform for regional cinema and local talent, while work was under way to develop a Film City in Nava Raipur.
The proposed facility would support film production and create employment and creative opportunities for artists and young people, he said.
CM Sai also announced the upgradation of Banbarad Middle School to a high school and the construction of a bituminous road from Ahiwara railway crossing to Atal Parisar.
School Education Minister Gajendra Yadav said folk forms such as Pandwani, Panthi, Bharthari, Dadariya and Suwa are integral to the state’s social traditions and cultural identity.
He urged artists to sustain the Mahasammelan in the years ahead.
Ahiwara MLA Rikesh Sen also addressed the gathering, while Usha Barle highlighted demands concerning artists in her welcome address. Durg Rural MLA Lalit Chandrakar, Saja MLA Ishwar Sahu, other public representatives, folk artists and a large number of citizens attended the programme.
Teejan Bai, legendary Indian folk singer and the foremost exponent of Pandavani, the traditional musical storytelling art form of Chhattisgarh, passed away in July 2026, at the age of 70 at AIIMS Raipur following a prolonged illness.
UNI SRC RN
Tags: #CM Sai announces art village in honour of Teejan Bai# ₹17.5 lakh incentive for folk troupes
More News

Fourth suspect in Nuh's Rs 4 15 crore heroin seizure case arrested

25 Oct 2026 | 1:13 AM

Nuh, Oct 24 (UNI) Nuh Police have arrested a fourth suspect in connection with the alleged seizure of 2.125 kg of heroin worth approximately Rs 4.15 crore, as investigators intensified efforts to trace the drug supply network and identify other suspected traffickers, including possible links to foreign nationals.

see more..

Haryana: Woman arrested in overseas job fraud case in Panipat

25 Oct 2026 | 12:52 AM

Panipat, Oct 23 (UNI) Panipat Police have arrested a woman from Mumbai for allegedly facilitating an overseas job fraud by routing money through her bank account in return for commission, police said.

see more..

Gurugram Traffic Crackdown: 14,859 Challans in one day, Rs 1 40 crore in fines for reckless driving in 23 days

25 Oct 2026 | 12:42 AM

Gurugram, Oct 24 (UNI) A massive traffic enforcement drive in Gurugram has brought to light the alarming scale of traffic violations, with police issuing 14,859 challans in a single day, impounding 176 vehicles without number plates and imposing penalties exceeding Rs 1.40 crore for dangerous driving over a 23-day period.

see more..

Haryana: CRPF jawan honoured for killing 4 militants on Independence Day accused of murdering wife in Rohtak

25 Oct 2026 | 12:41 AM

Chandigarh, Oct 24 (UNI) A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan, who was allegedly honoured on Independence Day for killing four militants during an operation in Manipur, has been accused of slitting his wife's throat in Haryana's Rohtak district, just two days after returning home on leave.

see more..

Modi to visit Varanasi on Sunday, witness IAF air show; Rajnath Singh arrives in Kashi

25 Oct 2026 | 12:41 AM

Varanasi, Oct 24 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit his parliamentary constituency for a brief four hours on Sunday.
The BJP is preparing for a grand welcome for the Prime Minister and Varanasi MP who will be greeted with conch shell blowing, damru playing, drums, and flower showers at eight key locations from the Police Line to Namo Ghat.

see more..