Purulia Chhau

Domain:Performing arts

State: West Bengal

Description:

Purulia is a district in West Bengal from where the famous Chhau dance originated. The word Chhau means Chhaya (mask or shadow) according to ancient Sanskrit texts. The choreography of the dance is taken from old rituals and dances associated with the worship of Lord Shiva. Chhau has three different categories representing three different states. These are the Purulia Chhau of West Bengal, the Seraikella Chhau of Jharkhand and the Mayurbhanj Chhau of Odisha. It is said that this dance originated from the worship of Lord Shiva, where men used to put on makeup to portray God followed by a Tandava form of dance. The mask came much later. Today this use of the mask is integrated into the dance itself and the techniques of the dance have developed on the basis of the usage of the mask. The mask-making itself has become a specialized art form in this region. Initially, the masks were made of wood and eventually the mask makers started using clay. It is due to these artisans that today’s Chhau is rated as a dance par excellence of Bengal. It is said that the credit for introducing present-day Chhau goes to Raja Madan Mohan of Baghmundi. Like many folk traditions, Chhau is rooted in rural soil. Its dance technique is essentially an expression of the lives of the people and shows the intimacy between man and nature. The performance depicts the episodes from the Mahabharata, the Ramayana, and the Puranas through dance and music.