Similarities with dance of Bali

It is indeed very surprising to note that there certain striking similarities in technique and also in themes between some of the items of dance Bali, Indonesia, and Chhau dance in Purulia.
In the themes of Purulia Chhau dance the fight between the good and the evil representing the god and the devils predominate. The same is the case with dace of Bali also when in particular the dance are performed by the males. I can mention here two dance of Bali. The one is known as the Barong dance and the other as the Kris dance. Both are very popular male dance like the Purulia Chhau throughout the whole island of Bali. Barong dance is also a mask dance like Purulia and the Kris dance is partly a mask dance though it is likely that it was wholly a mask dance originally. In Bali, Barong represents the good and his opponent Rangda which is a mythological monster like Asuras of Indian mythological tradition represents the evil. Like all the themes of Purulia Chhau the episodes of the Barong dance have also been adopted from the Indian Epic the Mahabharata. The themes are as follow.
 The most remarkable similarities between the dancers of Bali and those of Purulia lies in the similarity of the costumes specially the costumes of the lower parts of the bodies of the male dancers of Bali and Purulia.  In both the places an identical design of trousers is used or trousers with whiter or red stripes on zet black or deep red base are put on.
There is one remarkable dissimilarity also. In Bali, the characters which do not wear masks sometimes speak out some dialogue or prose.
It is no, however, possible at this stage to state clearly the reasons for similarities stated. Independent development and borrowing from a parent source both are possible.


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