Chhau- A traditional dance form

Chhau dance as it in vogue in the contiguous areas of the three States of Eastern India-West Bengal, Bihar and Orissa, has a basic character of its own, and if we analysis its basic qualities we are convinced that it represents essentially the characteristics originating from West Bengal. After its beginning and development in Purulia district in West Bengal, it was patronized by almost all the feudal chiefs of the entire Purulia, Ranchi and singbhum district. An individual patron developed the dance according to his own resources and imagination without injuring in any way its basic character. The member of the family of maharaja of Seraikella adopted the practice themselves. Each and every performance begins with a vocal invocation to ganesha. This is the only ritual part of the performance of Chhau that has been discarded both in  mayurbhanj  and in Seraikella. The heroic element or the Tandava character of the  Chhau dance  is also a striking feature....

The mask maker is busy in his work Mask is decorated with paint and colourful paper T he makers of masks of Purulia Chhau dance are caste Hindus, they come from a high social group among the Hindus. They live in isolation in one village named Chorida or Chorda in the district of Purulia, only two miles away from Bagmundi, they seat of a former feudal chief known as Raja of Bagmundi. About 75 years ago, one family of mask makers migrated from Chordia to Domordi, another village in the same district,and, started a second centre of mask making there. But at the latter place, masks are made not commercial purpose as for the purpose of utilising them for performances organised by the craftsmen themselves. If quality masks are needed by any party of performers, the buyers have to go to the Chorida, the parent village.                C horida is a fairly village, inhabited by about 70-75 families of Bhumij, 40-45 families of Sutradhar or...

The Chhau Artists of Purulia T he district of Purulia was a part of   Manbhum . Of the West Bengal district, the history of  Manbhum is the most ancient. Since very ancient period of time , it was through Jainism , and, subsequently, in Buddhism , that this part of the country came in contact with world outside. The ruins of Jaina and Buddhist temples  scattered throughout the districts bear testimony of  a very ancient culture  of this area. Here, Buddhism followed Jainism , as it is evident from a large number of temples which for some reason or other withstood the onslaught of Terk invasion. Manbhum.  The origin of Chhau Dance seems to be obscure through attempts have been made a derive it from various Sanskrit or indigeneous roots. Some believes that it is a corrupt word of Sanskrit word  Chhaya meaning shadow .  Other believes that the Sanskrit word Chhadma meaning disguise is the source of the word Chhau. Others are of the opi...