CHHAU DANCE (folk dance)

                        CHHAU DANCE




Chhau is a blend of martial traditions, temple rituals, and folk and popular performance of region. Chhau is popular in the state of west bengal, jharkhand, and odisha. Chhau generated from 'chhaya' means shadow. It describes mythological stories from the epic mahabharat, ramayana, purana, traditional folk love,local legends and abstract themes through the medium of dance and a music ensemble that consists primarily of indigenous drums.


Natural themes-  Sarpa nritya, mayur nritya etc. are some of the natural themes used in chhau dance. In- traditional context, the dance is intimately connected with the festivals and rituals of this region. Important among these in the chaitra parva celebrated in the month of april. The month of chaitra celebrates the advent of spring and the start of the harvesting season.

The melody is interwoven and is provided by reed pipes like the mohuri, shehnai. Though vocal music is not used in chhau, the melodies are based songs from the jhumur folk repertoire, the devotional kirtan, classical hindustani 'ragas' ,and traditional oriya sources. Dhol, dhumsa nagada, chadchadi provide accompaniment to chhau dance. 

The types of chhau dance-  It is a type of the mask dance in which martial movements are used to describe the stories. The seraikella chhau developed in seraikella, the present day administrative headquarters of the seraikella kharsawan district of jharkhand, the purulia chhau in purulia district of west bengal and the mayurbhanj chhau in mayurbhanj district of odisha.

The most prominent difference among the three subgeneres is regarding the use of masks. While, the seraikella and purulia subgeneres of chhau use mask during the dance, the mayurbhanj chhau uses none. The seraikella chhau's technique and repertoire were developed by the erstwhile nobility of this region who were both its performers and choreographars and in the modern era people from all background dance it. 

The seraikella chhau is performed with symbolic masks, and the acting establishes the role the actor is playing. 
The purulia chhau uses extensive masks shaped in the form of the character being  played; for example a lion character has a face mask of lion and body costumes too with the actor walking on all fours. The mask are crafted by potters who make clay images of hindu Gods and Goddesses and is primarily sourced frrom the purulia district of west bengal.

In the mayurbhanj chhau is performed without mask and is technically similar to the seraikella chhau. The chhau has three different types originating from three different regions. Everytype has its own unique feature, pattern, and style of performing and ornamentation as well. The themes of chhau dance are- vaishnavism, shaivism, shaktism.

Costumes used in chhau dance- bright colored costumes, huge ornamental headgears, masks depend upon the role you play in the story. The music is based on folk melodies.

Chhau was engraved on the representative list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity by UNESCO in 2010. The government has established government chhau center in seraikella in 1960 and mayurbhanj chhau nritya pratisthan at baripada in 1962. The sangeet natak akademi established a national centre for chhau dance at baripada, odisha.






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