Features And Styles Of Chhau Dance In English

Features And Styles Of Chhau Dance In English

Chhau Dance

• Chhau dance also called Chhau dance, is a semi-classical Indian dance with martial and folk traditions. It is found in three styles named after the place where they are performed, namely Mayurbhanj Chhau of Odisha, Seraikela Chhau of Jharkhand and Purulia Chhau of West Bengal.
• The costumes differ between genres, with Purulia and Serakila using masks to identify the character.
• Stories enacted by Chhau dancers include those from the Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, the Puranas and other Indian literature.

Etymology

• Chhau is a dance form that originated from the regions of eastern India. It may be derived from Sanskrit Chhaya (shadow, image or mask).
• Others connect it to the Sanskrit root chhadama (disguise), yet others such as Sitakanta Mohapatra suggest that it is derived from chhauni (military camp, armour, stealth) in the Odia language.

Features of Chhau Dance

• Chhau dance is mainly performed in regional festivals. Most of them take place on the Chaitra Parva of the spring festival, which lasts for thirteen days and is attended by the entire community.
• The dance is a mixture of ritual and dance, and displays fighting techniques and the movement and movements of animals.
• Dance is also presented on the work of the village eclipse. This dance is performed by male dancers who are traditional artists or people from the local community.
• This dance is mostly performed at night in an unadorned area which is also known as Akhand or Asar. This dance is performed in the tune of traditional and folk music. Mohuri and shehnai are also used in this.
• Chhau dance uses a special kind of mask which is made by the tribal Mahapatra, Maharani and Sutradhar of Purulia and Seraikela in Bengal. The art and craft of dance music and mask making is transmitted orally.
• Apart from this, different types of folk instruments like Dhol, Dhumsa and Kharka etc. are also used. In the subject of dance, sometimes the incident of Ramayana and Mahabharata is also depicted.
• Chhau dance is basically performed by the people of Munda, Bhumij, Mahato, Kalindi, Pattanaik, Samal, Daroga, Mohanti, Bhol, Acharya, Kar, Dubey and Sahu sects.

Chhau’s three styles

• Seraikela Chhau evolved into Seraikela when it was under the Gajapati rule of Kalinga, which is currently the administrative headquarters of Seraikela Kharsawan district of Jharkhand, Purulia Chhau in Purulia district of West Bengal and Mayurbhanj Chhau in Mayurbhanj district.
• The most prominent difference between the three subcastes is the use of masks. While, the Seraikela and Purulia sub-castes of the Chhau use masks during the dance, the Mayurbhanj Chhau do not use any.
• The technique and repertoire of Seraikela Chhau was developed by the erstwhile elites of the region, who were both its performers and choreographers, and in the modern era people of all backgrounds dance it.
• Seraikela Chhau is performed with symbolic masks, and the act establishes the role the actor is playing.
• In Purulia Chhau, elaborate masks are used in the shape of the character being played; For example, a lion character also has a lion face and body costume, with the actor walking on all fours.
• These masks are prepared by potters, who make clay idols of Hindu gods and goddesses, and are mainly sourced from the Purulia district of West Bengal.
• Chhau in Mayurbhanj is performed without masks and is technically similar to Seraikela Chhau.
• Chhau in Mayurbhanj is performed without masks and is technically similar to Seraikela Chhau.

Chhau Mask

• The main difference between Purulia Chhau and Mayurbhanj Chhau is in the use of the mask. Purulia Chhau dance uses masks, but Mayurbhanj Chhau lacks masks, adding facial expression to body movements and gestures.
• Traditionally, the Chhau dance is held during mid-March when one agricultural cycle ends and a new one begins.

• Purulia Chhau dancers wear clay and theatrical masks that represent mythological characters. The shape of the masks is made out of clay, it is colored and decorated with shola etc.
• These Chhau masks are made by artists from the Sutradhar community. The manufacturing of a mask goes through various stages.
• 8-10 layers of soft paper, dipped in diluted glue, are pasted one after the other on the mold before the clay mold is dusted with fine ash powder.
• The facial features are made of clay. A special layer of clay and cloth is applied and then the mask is dried in the sun.
• After this, the mold is polished and a second round of sun-drying is done before the cloth and paper layers are separated from the mold.
• After finishing and drilling holes for the nose and eyes, the mask is painted and decorated.
• After finishing and drilling holes for the nose and eyes, the mask is painted and decorated.

Ethnic Affiliation

• Chhau dance is basically performed by the people of Munda, Bhumij, Kumhar, Kudmi Mahto, Dom, Khandayat, Teli, Pattanaik, Samal, Daroga, Mohanti, Bhol, Acharya, Kar, Dubey and Sahu communities.
• The art and craft of dance music and mask making is transmitted orally. It is mainly performed in regional festivals.
• The Chhau dance ceremony continues for thirteen days on the Chaitra festival of the spring festival. People of every class participate in this dance.
• The music of Chhau dance is given by Mukhi, Kalindi, Dhada. Chhau dance uses a special type of mask which is made by the communal Mahapatra, Maharani and Sutradhar of Purulia and Seraikela in Bengal.