Chhau Dance - I



Chhau Dance - I

  • Chaau Dance is a genre of Indian tribal martial dance which is popular in the Indian states of Odisha, Jharkhand and West Bengal.




  • The themes for these dances include local legends, folklore and episodes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata and other abstract themes.



  • The Chhau blends within it forms of both dance and martial practices and movements based on the chores of village housewives (called uflis).



  • Chhau dance is essentially open-air offer; all the special instruments used for the accompaniment emit loud or sharp songs. 
  • Traditional musical instrument used for Chhau in Clude Dhol, Nagara or Dhumsa (kettle dance), Jhanj (brass cymbals), flute, Mohuri, conch shells, Turi and Bheri (Long bamboo pipes) some classical music instruments like Shenal, Veena, Pakhwaj, Mridanga etc.



  • The Hindi film Barfi! has several scenes that features the Purulia Chhau in it.



References: 


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chhau_dance
http://seraikela.nic.in/historyculturestyle.html
http://purulia.gov.in/distAdmin/departments/dico/chau_dance.html

20 comments:

  1. Utpal KhotDecember 8, 2014 at 8:24 AM

    Nice and informative.. (y)

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  2. MeowwDecember 8, 2014 at 9:16 AM

    I haven't heard about this martial art + dance. The head dress and clothing and accessories are so elaborate and colorful! Beautiful!

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  3. Siddhartha JoshiDecember 8, 2014 at 9:34 AM

    Super fun!

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  4. D.NambiarDecember 8, 2014 at 12:06 PM

    Nice to learn about Chau. I can almost hear some percussion instrument go with it. Would love to watch this, sometime.

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  5. VaisakhiDecember 8, 2014 at 12:15 PM

    Reminds me of home! Did you know the most ancient and prominent form of chau come from Saraikala a small village in Jharkhand near TataNagar. And even now the majority of the villagers are involved in this art form. Nice article :)

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  6. Yogi SaraswatDecember 8, 2014 at 5:40 PM

    very nice pics

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  7. IndraniDecember 8, 2014 at 8:49 PM

    Nice to see this dance form.

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  8. ArijaDecember 9, 2014 at 9:14 AM

    A very colourful sight with those peacock-tail head-dresses.Traditional dances are always good to see. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  9. alicesgDecember 9, 2014 at 10:39 AM

    Must be nice to watch the dance. Happy Tuesday.

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousDecember 9, 2014 at 2:28 PM

    Wonderful shots and costumes.

    ReplyDelete
  11. dokka srinivasuDecember 9, 2014 at 7:53 PM

    Dear Paresh

    You have a nice blog. Your blog covering wide range of topics including photography, culture, wildlife, butterflies,poems etc. many things. amazing. You have multi talented skills. It is God's gift to you.

    I like these Chhau dance photographs very much. They are representing our culture heritage of India. Thanks for sharing.

    Paresh recently i am presented my Third Seminar on Indian Heritage and Culture to young children. In this seminar i am sharing my paintings and other collections relating to Indian Heritage and explaining children about various aspects of our Heritage and Culture through my collections. Children are eagerly participated in my seminar and they clarified their doubts about our glorious heritage.

    http://indian-heritage-and-culture.blogspot.in/2014/12/my-third-seminar-on-indian-heritage-and.html

    Please look into my Third Seminar on Indian Heritage post and share your valuable and inspirational comment for the same.

    ReplyDelete

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