INTRODUCTION
Definition of Chhau Dance and the word meaning of Chhau: -
The Chhau Dance follows the basic
principles of Hindu Dance. Chhau Dance is prevalent not only in Seraikela but
also in the same form or the other in many parts of Orissa and West Bengal.
The word Chhau is
interpreted in different ways by different quarters and persons: -
In the opinion of Late Bijay Pratap Singh
Deo of Seraikela who was an architect of Chhau dance of Seraikella school,
Chhau is a masked dance, the motif of which has been drawn from the
mythological picturesque.
In the opinion of some people
"Chhau" is a dialect which meams six faces, Viz. fore head, eyes,
nose, cheeks, lips and chin and a mask bears the six parts of the face. The
word "Chhau" ordinarily means mask and because the dance is performed
by use of mask, it is called "Chhau Dance".
According to yet another school of
thought the word "Chhau" has been derived from the Sanskrit word
"Chhabi" which means image or picture. Several others say that as the
dance is characterized by variety it is called Chhau dance and therefore the
word meaning of "Chhau" is Chhabila in Sanskrit and fancy or
picturesque in English.
According to Sitakanta Mohapatra
(I.A.S.), Chhau is concocted pronunciation of the word Chhauni (Military
Barrack or Cantonment). In his views, the militia man (Paikas) staged and
performed in Chhauni (cantonments) for amusement during leisure time and enjoy
their success or victory in battle field, so the people called it as
"Chhauni dance", Which in course of time has changed to Chhau dance
by mispronunciation.
RITUALS
"Chhau" dance flourished
at eight Akhadas on the basis of Parikhanda and is not only the means of
recreation but is related with the religion beliefs of the people. 13 Bhaktas
from different sects of society with "Stubble Bhat" in last 13 days
of the month of Chaitra start with "Habissanna" in this function and
the dance starts in last four days with "Yatra Ghat" and concludes in
the last night with "Kalika Ghat".
HISTORY
The beginning of Chhau dances is
lost in hoary past and the rulers have been intimately associated with
religious festivals known as "Chaitra Parva" celebrated every year
for several centuries. Not only have they been actively associated with
religious festivals, they have nurtured the art of dance. They have nurtured
the art of dance that blossomed underthe royal patronage. Invariably every year
the Chhau dances are performed during the spring and members of the royal
family and commoners dance together without distinction of rank and creed. The
prince and pauper join each other freely and express their feelings through
dance. In early days the dancers used masks of bamboos and gourds and these
dances were related with mythological tales of Mahabharata, Ramayana and the
life and nature of human beings. Later on masks made of paper mache were used.
The present style of dance is
given to its shape by the untiring efforts of Kunwar Bijay Pratap Singhdeo in
1920s. Hence after he is said to be the Father of Modern Saraikela Chhau. Since
1938, Seraikella Chhau dance has added to it's glory by exhibiting the dance to
corners of far and near till this date.
The Govt. has given new
dimension to the art and culture by establishing state Chhau Dance Centre. The
in exhaustive effort of the dancers of Chhau; Seraikela keeps a special
position in global world of art.
Our country is predominantly based
on religion. People worship different Gods and Goddesses to invoke their
blessings to ward off evils. To please the Gods, there was necessity of
rejoicing through music and dance in harmony with rituals.
As such the Chhau dance in
general and that of Searikela in particular relates this dance with the worship
of Lord Shiva in the month of "Chaitra" (Mid April) ushering spring
when the hearts of the people are filled with cosmic joy in tune with the
"Basant Ritu" the spring.
SARAIKELA CHHAU
The Chhau dance of Searikela is a
traditional dance from with classical base. The Chhau dance of Seraikela is a
highly specialized masked dance having a rich cultural heritage.
The word 'Chhau' is
derived from the Sanskrit word 'Chhaya' meaning 'shade image mask' which is an
essential features of this art. In Seraikela Chhau, the mask in the center of
attraction, Vachikabhinaya is absent and the elements of speech there is greater
scope for expression through mime and body language. Different Bhavas (Moods)
and Rasas (sentiments) are exquisitely expressed through the movements of the
limbs in Chhau. The Searikela Chhau has evolved from a distinct martial art
called "Pharikhanda" play of (sword and shield) and has a few
distinguished manners of execution. The style, posture, movements and footwork
confirms to positive martial art from bestowed with grace. In this dance form
the mask covers the face exerting the dancers to express his Bhava (Mood) and
Rasa (sentiments) through body movements like Siro Bhedo (Head gesture) and
Griba Bhedo (neck gesture) leaving no room for "Dristi Bhedo" (eye
movements and glances).
Natya Shastra enumerates one
hundred eight (108) Karanas. In Seraikela these are known as upalayas or uphle,
make up basic vocabulary in Chhau dance uphlu (meaning lips and motion).
The music of
Chhau in many cases is based on the ragas of the Hindustani classical music as
also from folk lure. In some cases it has been borrowed from the composition of
outstanding Oriya poets of the past where some cases folk melodies (Dashi) are
utilized.
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 subject of
matter of Chhau assumed artistic proposals and it's themes are drawn from great
epics –The Ramayana and Mahabharata, Nature and human existence giving rise to
dances like Duryodhan –Urubhanga "Goda Yuddh"(club duel) Astra Dwanada
(sword duel) and the sort.
Nature played a
significant role in the composition of dance numbers like Mayur (Peacock – the
glorious national bird), Hansa (swan) Prajapati (Butterfly), Sagar(ocean) and
all that.
The historical
episodes like "Rani of Jhansi"(Laxmibai), Hamara Desh Mahan added in
1995 shows interesting features of the art.
Romance is
equally incorporated in the art "sringar" sentiments play a Dominant
role in the numbers like "Barsa ghama ghama"(when rains pours in
showers)."chandra bhaga"(the eternal love of sun god with maiden
chandrabhaga) depicting in episode a "Konark" in Orissa kach debjani in the lyrics of immortal
visvakabi Rabindra Nath Tagore "Biday Abhisaap" has been portrayed to
render a romantic and so and so forth.
The great choreographer and a dozen of this celebrated art Kumar
Bijay Pratap Singh Deo the illustrious brother of late Maharaja Aditya Pratap
Singh Deo is hailed to be the author of the latest treasure in Chhau dance
style by invoking the elements of lasya (feminine grace) in its original. To
the development of chhau are the most evolved and have a well-structured
grammar. The Mayurbhanj Chhau is a beautiful mosaic comprising elements from
folk, martial and classical art. The dancers uses basic steps "Topkas",
Ufils, Chali.
The word Chhau, now obsolete means
to attack stealthily in Oriya.A few derivative words of Chhau such as Chhauri
and Chhaurani and Chhamka (meaning resopectively the armor, a military camp and
the quality of attacking stealthily) are in still in currency. The rudimentary
Chhau dance in Mayurbhanj was called rook-maar –naacha, literally meaning: the
dance of defense and attack.
In Mayubhanj (Orissa) Chhau the
great exponents are shri Madan Mohan Lenka ,Sri Hari Nayak recipient academy
awards by the president of India.
MANBHUM (PURULIA) CHHAU
This is perhaps
the best-known style of Chhau largely due to it energetic and dramatic characteristics.
As regards the masks and the mask-makers of Manbhum Chhau much as already been
described and discussed.
The vigorous
aspects of Purulia Chhau are based illustrated in a series of Asura masks
having a fierce countenance and painted bright green and red. In general the
range of colour used to symbolize character types in framework and giving a
classical touch assisted by local ustad.
Performers of
different school's of chhau have achieved World Wide acclamation and bestowed
with national and international trophies.
It is worthwhile to mention that
living legend late Rajkumar Suddhandra Narayan Singh Deo (Seraikela chhau) who
was honoured with PadmashreeAward by the president of India, Guru Kedar Nath
Sahu recipient of academy award from the president of India are brilliant
exponents of Seraikela style. Ustad Bikram Kumbhkar exponent of Seraikela chhau
is a recipient of academy award from the president of India.
MAYURBHANJ CHHAU
Chhau is usually though to be a
mask dance. However, that performed Baripada in Mayurbhanj, Orissa, does not
use any distinctive masks though the face remains quite immobile. The
Mayurbhanj chhau the movements are quite vigorous. Maintaining the basic spirit
and style of chhau dance the rulers of Mayurbhanj, cultivated the chhau dance
to develop it to a unique from with the support the Govt.
Mayurbhanj
chhau seems to be closely related to Seraikela chhau. Because the two
Guru's/Ustad had gone to Mayurbhanj and trained the Pharikhanda style
dance/martial art name Upendra Biswal and Banamali Das. Seraikela and
Mayurbhanj were princely states and their rulers extended enthusiastic
patronage. consistent with that used in other forms of traditional Indian
performing arts. Purulia masks with towering headgears are more dramatic
influenced by the Jatra/theatre of Bengal, Purulia/Manbhum.
Chhau vibrates
with a powerful theatrically and imparts to the dance mythical episodes a rare
kind of palpability. The themes are drawn from Ramayana (written by Krittibas)
and mahabharata or the mythological character. The music of Manbhum chhau in
many cases based on the folk melodies and Jhoomer and musical instrument are
Dhol, Nagara, and Mahuri etc.
The Manbhum school
exhibit of vigorous body movements acrobatics their vigorous dance forms
suggests martial origin of Chhau much akin to military exercises.
The revered
master and choreographers Guru Gambhir Singh Munda and Nepal Mahto of
Mnbhum/Purulia school are greatest exponents of the art and recipient of
Padmashree from the president of India.
KHARSAWAN CHHAU
The Kharsawan
chhau does not used in any masks except in a single item "Ganesh
Bandana" in which mask is used to represent the facial expressions of lord
Ganesh. Once a time Kharsawan was also a princely state. The Kharsawan style of
chhau dance is in fact a product of fashion of the Mayurbhanj and Purulia style
of Chhau. The Kharsawan style of chhau is also a martial art form. The purity
of the martial art form has been preserved by these indigenous people of this
area who constant exchange among the villagers and the communities. It is more
modern form owes much to the active intervention of the kings of Kharsawan.
Unfortunately these style is not very popular due to some circumstances.
The main three
style Seraikela, Mayurbhanj and Manbhum/Purulia are recognized but Kharsawan
till date not recognized. Whether Kharsawan Chhau is very beautiful. The
movements chali locomotion ufles and steps are full of the velour and dynamism.
The costumes and appearance of these dancers are very distinctive.
The music of
Kharsawan chhau in many cases based on local folk melodies of and jhoomur. The
Kharsawan chhau also used Dhol, Dhumsa, mohuri etc. which traditional musical
instrument.
It in significant that not only
Seraikela but all the different style of chhau culminate in a festival called
CHAITRAPARVA celebrated on the last day of the month of Chaitra. Corresponding
with April.
The festival
proper begins with the Jatraghat ceremony whenever the chaitraparve or the
Chhau dance performed whether it is in Seraikela, Mayurbhanj, Kharsawan and
Purulia/Manbhum. The jatraghat ceremony must be performed.
The underlying
rituals (lord Shiva and Shakti) of the chaitraparava are the same as those of
the "DANDAJATRA" or "DANDANATA"
The
Chhau dance is of the people
By the people and
for the people
Dance of mother
of arts
Music and poetry
exists in time
EMINENT PERSONALITIES
V. Kumar Vijay Pratap Singhdeo
Modern Architect of Seraikela Chhau
Late Raj Kumar Sudhendra Narayan Singhdeo
Late B.B. Pattanaik
Padmashree Ist Director of Saraikela Chhau Center
Late Raj Kumar Sudhendra Narayan Singhdeo Ustad Vikram Kumbhakar
Padmashree