Under the popular museum series ‘Exhibit of the Month’ of Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya, a traditional object is displayed in the appearance for a whole month.
The exhibit for the month of May,2023 “Chikara - A String Instrument” Gond Community fromMandla Madhypradesh,is on display in the indoor exhibition building–Veethi Sankul. The 'exhibit of the month' was inaugurated by Ravi Shankar Shrivas former assistant curator of the museum,and Surya Kumar Pandey head of the office IGRMS, are renowned people present on this occasion. This exhibit of the month had been composed by Mohan Goyal Museum Assistant.
About the exhibit displayed in the exhibition Mohan Goyal said that the Chikara' is a very old folk instrument prevalent in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. In fact, Chikara is a folk instrument that conveys 'swantah sukhay', the heal of happiness to oneself.
In the rural areas, when the Chikara player gets engrossed in playing Chikara with a folk hymn, he became faded to lose his senses to the tune. For a few moments one becomes free from worldly illusions. In this context, the views of famous Chikara player Jhamsingh Bharavi of Bija-Dandi, Mandla and Bhagdas of Sutiya, Rajnandgaon are similar. According to Sheikh Gulab, Sarangi is created from Chikara itself, and is advanced version of Chikara. There was a time when the sound of Chikara used to reverberate in every village, but now gradually Chikara players are becoming rare.
The length of Chikara is about two to three feet, which is made of a long stick of Khamhar wood. The concave part of the Chikara's body is covered with Monitor lizards hide. After covering the leather, it is tightened by small nails on both sides. Leaving about 3 to 4 inches from the bottom, a wooden 'horse peg' is placed on top of this leather, in which the strings of the Chikara sits and further taken to the pegs at the top.
Chikara is decorated with carved figures of Peacocks, Birds, and Horses on its top. This instrument is played while singing hymns and other songs. A rope is tied around the Chikara, allowing it to be carried from one place to another on the shoulder and hanging on the wall while keeping.
