Purulia district in the state of West Bengal, India has become famous for its unique form of dance known as Chhau dance since time immemorial. The Chhau Dance was developed in this region and has been passed down through generations and has evolved into the mesmerizing dance form it is today. The aim of this blog post will be to give an informative explanation of Purulia’s Chhau dance, including its history, who performs it, what they wear, how it’s performed, the instruments they use, and any other interesting details you can find out about this fascinating Indian tradition.
Where can you see the performance?
Chhau is mainly performed in Chorida village near baghmundi, purulia. However, people from other states like Jharkhand, West Bengal, Assam and Bihar also can perform chhau. The main places where one can see Chhau dance are Purulia, Bankura and Midnapur districts of West Bengal. The traditional festival at which it is performed is called Basant Panchami (the 5th day after Holi). It lasts for about a month or more if there are some special occasions to celebrate. During that time one can see different types of dances as well as different kinds of songs that deal with various issues. For example, during Durga Puja, you will find Durga songs being played whereas during Saraswati puja you will get to hear Saraswati songs being played by local artists who have been trained in such art forms since their childhood days.
Why should you watch it?
The masks themselves have become a specialized art form in this region. Mask-makers, called Moktak Santhals, work in small villages creating beautiful pieces from wood that are then decorated with colors using a combination of soot, chalk, coal and other plant dyes. Traditionally, mask-making was a community affair; men would gather to make large scale masks for festivals while women made smaller individualized masks to use in rituals. In modern times, however, it is now common for one person or family to create all masks used by a particular dance troupe. In some cases, these artists have even developed their own unique styles and techniques that distinguish their works from those of others in their area. All masks are still made with materials gathered locally such as bamboo, twigs and leaves. Some feature embellishments like real human hair, mirrors or small bells attached around their bodies as part of costume design. They can also be quite heavy weighing up to 20 pounds! Today, most Chhau dances take place at various religious celebrations, including weddings. There are three different types of dances—the Nachchharu which tells a story through gestures and facial expressions (without any accompanying music), the Chakradharu which includes music played on drums and cymbals and often features several characters and lastly there’s Bhetswari which combines both aspects into one performance. Each type has its own distinct movements but all share similar themes including courtship, marriage or fertility rites. While each dance may only last for about ten minutes in length, they require intense preparation by both performers and musicians alike. To learn more about watching authentic performances check out our guide here .
How does this dance help in bringing communities together?
The dance is used to express the lives of the people and shows the intimacy between man and nature. To most, chhau symbolizes the essence of the tribal culture, love for nature and life. The dance which was once termed as ‘Chowdury’ later known as ‘Chhau’ is performed by a group of men or women in unison. While male chhau dancers were considered warriors in war-like situation, female dancers were known to be quite graceful. In spite of being a village folk art form, chhau has made its way into various rituals and ceremonies like a raksha bandhan and marriages in West Bengal.
Where to stay?
Best hotel in purulia for arraging chhau dance at Malgudi Resort, Matha Forest,Ajodhya Hills area. Malgudi Resort, Matha Forest,Ajodhya Hills area hotels is a perfect place to stay for guests that have come to watch chhau dance program in purulia. These hotels provide you with best service at cheap price. If you are visiting purulia it is a perfect idea to book your room in advance by contacting us directly via email or telephone number provided below. We will try our level best to give you best possible rates as per availability at that time. On 21st November every year, there is a festival named 'Chhau' which is organized in Purulia district of West Bengal. It has an importance as it's one of most popular and oldest festivals among tribal people living here.