Pandit Birju Maharaj, a legendary Kathak dancer, died late on January 16th in New Delhi. The 83-year-old maestro is said to have died of a heart attack. Pandit Ji’s Kathak skills were unrivaled, and he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan. He has given the Bollywood industry some memorable choreographies that proved he was the true Kathak maestro.
Birju Maharaj, according to reports, was playing with his grandsons late on Sunday night when his health deteriorated and he became unconscious. Birju Maharaj was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
“He was with us at the time this happened. He ate his dinner while we played ‘antakshari’ because he liked old music.
Maharaj was lying down when his breathing became erratic. We suspect cardiac arrest because he was also a heart patient.
“This occurred between 12:15 and 12:30 a.m.” It couldn’t have been more than a minute. We hustled to the hospital, but we were unable to save him. “He died before reaching the hospital,” Birju Maharaj’s granddaughter Ragini, herself a Kathak dancer, was quote as saying by news outlets.
President Ram Nath Kovind expressed condolences to Pandit Birju Maharaj’s family and admirers, saying his death marked the end of an era.
“The death of Pandit Birju Maharaj, a legendary musician, marks the end of an era. It leaves a significant void in Indian music and culture. He became an icon for his unrivaled contribution to the global popularisation of Kathak. Condolences to his family and fans. “President Kovind issued a tweet.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described his death as an “irreparable loss” to art. “We are deeply instant by the news of the death of Pandit Birju Maharaj Ji, a legendary Kathak dancer. We have lost a unique institution in the field of performing arts. His brilliance has influenced many generations. May his soul RIP, “Adnan Sami, a singer, tweeted.
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