The indigenous dance form of West Singhbhum region of Jharkhand, Saraikela Chhau has given the State its much deserved recognition by bringing it in the cultural arena at national and international level. The dance form has also given six Padma Awardees. The awardees, along with several other devotees of the art form, have made huge contribution to preserve the culture and the dance.
While UNESCO has included Saraikela Chhau as one of the World Heritage, the dance form is immensely popular in several regions in the country. “Before Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Jharkhand was known for hockey internationally. But, Chhau as an indigenous art form was admired everywhere. The Saraikela Chhau has certainly brought Jharkhand laurels,” said Dr HP Sinha, a noted historian with immense knowledge of art and culture.
Dr Sinha, who has penned down a beautiful piece on the art form in a souvenir, published by the Information and Public Relations Department (IPRD) of the Government of Jharkhand States that there were immense historical proofs to suggest that the art form took birth in the Saraikela region. “One of the most prominent historical evidences to suggest that the art emanated from Saraikela is that the masks used by Saraikela Chhau artistes are the simplest ones. On the other hand the masks used by Chhau artistes of Odisha and West Begal are complex and bright,” he added.
The State Government, that has recently organised a magnificent Saraikela Chhau Mahotsav also recognised the contribution of the artistes and felicitated the Padma awardees. The awardees were late Kedarnath Sahu, Surendra Narayan Singhdeo, Mangala Prasad Mohanty, late Makardhwaj Daroga, Shyama Charan Pati and Gopal Prasad Dubey. The nine-day Chhau Mahotsav and Swadeshi Mela started on April 5 while Chaitra Parva at the Seraikela royal palace started on April 9 with all rituals and chhau performances at the palace courtyard.
Chhau Mahotsav was organised by the State Department of Art, Culture and Tourism at Seraikela. About a decade ago, an initiative by the local administration in association with the family members of the former king of Seraikela, Aditya Narayan Singhdeo, had led to the commencement of the Chhau festival in the area.