Chhau Dance of Mayurbhanj

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hhau Dance of Mayurbhanj was subsequently adopted by the relatives of Maharajas in a sophisticated style to serve the purpose of elites. The rife-torn lives of Maharajas could get solace from this dance, which was mostly performed at the time of 'Chaitra Parva', a festival of the ex-states of Mayurbhanj, Kharsuan and Sareikala being patronised by the rulers. A number of ex-ruler states before their merger in Orissa state were practising Chhau dance and some prominent among them are: Chhau of Baripada in Mayurbhanj, Asanpal in Keonjhar, Nilgiri in Balasore, Arnapal in Bhadrak, Bonei in Sundargarh, Talcher in Angul, Balaramprasad in Dhenkanal, Bhubaneswar in Khurda district. Traditional Mayurbhanj Chhau has lived through Uttarsahi and Dakshinsahi since time immemorial. Dancers of both these segments worshipped Bhairava, an aspect of angry mood of Lord Shiva and perform during Chaitra festival, every year which also signifies the Oriya new year that is April 14, Panasankranti. The dance was at first performed with masks but Mayurbhanj adopted these dances without masks. This gave scope for transformation of the erstwhile tribal dance to a semi-classical dance form, and with the passage of time it has now enriched itself to be called a classical dance, the glory it richly deserves.Prof. D.K. Sarangi opines, "Chhau is undoubtly a tribal Orissan Art. This famous art form not only originated in a predominantly tribal belt but that the basic posture, the accompanying music and the asthetic mood of the Chhau quite often resemble different dances and songs of these tribes." Mayurbhanj Chhau is performed in solo, duet and group. The subject matter has been brought thematically and substantially from the Ramayan, Mahabharat, Krishna Cult and the Purans. In the beginning probably it had no themes but subsequently a thematic base was provided to this dance form. Chhau in its present form is a fine blending of various systems. Now that national and international attentions have been drawn to this dance, it should get its recognition it deserves. The government, general public and the administration must change their attitude in this regard, so that this valuable art can survive in the age of Information Technology and Audio-Visual Media. These thrust areas are to be thought upon and touched. The approval of Univesity and Government are needed for institutionalising it. The act of copyright is also necessary from protecting it from plagiarists, so that Chhau could survive as a traditional martial art in the district of Mayurbhanj in Orissa.

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