Teejan Bai, an exponent of Pandwani, a traditional storytelling art form, belongs to which state?

Explanation

Teejan Bai is the most famous performer of Pandwani, a traditional form of musical storytelling from Chhattisgarh. She was born in 1956 in the village of Ganiyari, near Bhilai, into the Pardhi community.

Pandwani tells the stories of the Pandavas, the heroes of the Mahabharata, through song, music and acting. The performer holds a tambura (a stringed instrument) decorated with peacock feathers and uses it as a prop, sometimes as Bhima's mace or Arjuna's bow, while singing and acting out the story. A group of accompanists plays the harmonium, tabla, dholak and cymbals and responds to the lead performer. Pandwani has two styles. In the Vedamati style, the performer sits and narrates. In the Kapalik style, the performer stands and acts out the story with great energy. Teejan Bai performs in the Kapalik style. She learnt the art from her grandfather and broke a barrier by becoming one of the first women to perform Pandwani in public, at a time when it was considered an art for men.

Teejan Bai has performed in many countries and has received the Padma Shri (1988), the Padma Bhushan (2003) and the Padma Vibhushan (2019), as well as the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and Japan's Fukuoka Prize (2018).

Why not the other options?

Madhya Pradesh is known for folk forms such as Matki, Rai and Jawara. Chhattisgarh was carved out of Madhya Pradesh in 2000, but Pandwani is now listed under Chhattisgarh.

Odisha is known for Odissi, Gotipua and the narrative art Daskathia.

Jharkhand is known for Chhau of Seraikela, Paika and Jhumar.