Primary Country (Mandatory)

United States

Other Country (Optional)

Set News Language for United States

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language[s] (Optional)
No other language available

Set News Language for World

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language(s) (Optional)

Set News Source for United States

Primary Source (Mandatory)
CNN
Other Source[s] (Optional)

Set News Source for World

Primary Source (Mandatory)
AajTak
Other Source(s) (Optional)
  • Countries
    • India
    • United States
    • Qatar
    • Germany
    • China
    • Canada
    • World
  • Categories
    • National
    • International
    • Business
    • Entertainment
    • Sports
    • Special
    • All Categories
  • Available Languages for United States
    • English
  • All Languages
    • English
    • Hindi
    • Arabic
    • German
    • Chinese
    • French
  • Sources
    • India
      • AajTak
      • NDTV India
      • The Hindu
      • India Today
      • Zee News
      • NDTV
      • BBC
      • The Wire
      • News18
      • News 24
      • The Quint
      • ABP News
      • Zee News
      • News 24
    • United States
      • CNN
      • Fox News
      • Al Jazeera
      • CBSN
      • NY Post
      • Voice of America
      • The New York Times
      • HuffPost
      • ABC News
      • Newsy
    • Qatar
      • Al Jazeera
      • Al Arab
      • The Peninsula
      • Gulf Times
      • Al Sharq
      • Qatar Tribune
      • Al Raya
      • Lusail
    • Germany
      • DW
      • ZDF
      • ProSieben
      • RTL
      • n-tv
      • Die Welt
      • Süddeutsche Zeitung
      • Frankfurter Rundschau
    • China
      • China Daily
      • BBC
      • The New York Times
      • Voice of America
      • Beijing Daily
      • The Epoch Times
      • Ta Kung Pao
      • Xinmin Evening News
    • Canada
      • CBC
      • Radio-Canada
      • CTV
      • TVA Nouvelles
      • Le Journal de Montréal
      • Global News
      • BNN Bloomberg
      • Métro
Winter Beanie Hat Scarf Gloves Set for Women Buy Now
Men's Blazer Casual Sport Coats Buy Now
180° Flip Screen Compact Camera with Flash Buy Now
Cremo Italian Bergamot Body Wash Buy Now
Mens Slim Chino Pant Buy Now
KODAK PIXPRO AZ405 Digital Camera (20MP, 40X Zoom) Buy Now
Kenneth Cole Reaction Chelsea Tote Buy Now
Midi & Maxi Skirts Buy Now
Braun Silk·Expert Pro 5 IPL Buy Now
10" Android Tablet Buy Now
Long Sleeve Open Front Cardigan Buy Now
Hyaluronic Acid Serum for Face Buy Now
Softshell Flight Bomber Jacket Coat Buy Now
Sunzel Flare Leggings Buy Now
Ficerd Women's Ribbed T-Shirts Buy Now
Instant Hijab Scarf For Women Buy Now
Vintage Printed Linen Shirt Buy Now
Into the AM Men's T-Shirt Buy Now
Y2K Crop Tops Buy Now
Ripped Slim Fit Denim Jeans Buy Now
MoreBack to News Headlines
Going on a Chhau trail in Odisha

Going on a Chhau trail in Odisha

The Hindu
Wednesday, April 23, 2025 11:39 AM GMT

Experience the vibrant and dynamic world of Chhau dance in Mayurbhanj, Odisha

Plastic chairs and string cots are arranged neatly in a semi-circle under a canopy of trees at Beguna Diha, a village on the outskirts of Mayurbhanj in Odisha. You can hear the sound of practising percussionists, as young men and women get ready for a performance. The audience slowly fills the space. As the drums pick up pace, the Mayurbhanj Chhau dancers take centre stage, and their dynamic movements fills the surrounding with energy and verve. They also encourage the audience to learn a few steps. However, replicating their perfection and vigour is a futile attempt.

Witnessing these dancers rehearse proves to be a significant part of a trail of sorts, to discover and delve into Chhau — a martial, tribal and folk dance form. In April this year, the Belgadia palace in Mayurbhanj in association with Aadi Naad hosted The Chhau, a three day festival that brought together three distinct styles of this dance — the Mayurbhanj Chhau which originates from the same region, Purulia Chhau from West Bengal, and Seraikela Chhau from Jharkhand. 

There is much that is unique to each style of Chhau, we soon realise. On a balmy evening, a troupe of Purulia Chhau dancers dressed in bright yellow, orange, green and black, with masks and elaborate headgear bring alive the story of Durga and Mahishasura at the grounds of the Belgadia Palace. The dancers effortlessly jump and do somersaults, leaving us in awe of their sharp, nifty movements despite the heavy costumes and masks.

The etymology of the word Chhau can possibly be traced back to meaning Chhauni or military barracks, where the dance was supposed to have originated from foot soldiers practicing these movements. Watching the dancers depict a fierce battle between Durga and Mahishasura, the martial influences are more than evident in the way they move. 

When we witness the Seraikela Chhau, there is a calmness and grace that we immediately notice about this style. The costumes and masks are colourful, but a lot more muted in comparison, and the story we see is that of dancers depicting Krishna trying to court Radha. The lilting beats of the dhol and softer strains of the shehnai enhance the sringara rasa.

“Most of us are generational artists and we begin learning Chhau when most children are introduced to the alphabet,” says Sanjay Kumar Karmakar, who has been dancing since he was four. He points towards the masks with elegantly drawn eyes and says they are not props. “Each mask is different, and helps capture the emotion that represents the character we play. We might wear a mask, but through our dance, we become the character we are portraying,” he says. 

While our introduction to the Mayurbhanj Chhau is at Beguna Diha when we see dancers rehearse, nothing can quite prepare us for the spectacle we later see on stage. Performed without masks, dancers decked in silks, turbans and with swords in their hands, nimbly move around the stage, as they bring alive the story of Abhimanyu from the Mahabharata. There is courage, valour, the fierceness of a raging battle, and the eventual loss that all comes alive on stage. The intense energy of the athletic dancers never once overshadows the emotions in the story they are depicting; a hushed silence falls over the audience when Abhimanyu dies. 

Read full story on The Hindu
Share this story on:-
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running GamePlay Run 3, the ultimate space tunnel running game with 300+ challenging levels!Adv.
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing GameTraffic Jam 3D is a game where you’ll be driving through heavy traffic.Adv.
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic GamePlay the classic 1984 light gun shooter game Duck Hunt on your browser.Adv.
More Related News
Viewing Shoorpanakha from beyond the myth and its margins

A solo performance Shoorpanakha: A Search by Parshathy J Nath will be presented in Bengaluru on June 11

Kamal Haasan’s ‘Vikram’ shines in Japan amid ‘Thug Life’ release

Kamal Haasan’s blockbuster ‘Vikram’ breaks records in Japan, receives positive responses and sets new opening day record by grossing over INR ₹ 50 lakh

Theatre as an antidote to loneliness

Jehan Manekshaw's journey from theatre education to cultural revitalization in Mumbai, shared in an insightful interview.

‘Thug Life’ movie review: Kamal Haasan’s fiery performance aside, Mani Ratnam’s gangster drama shoots blanks

‘Thug Life’ movie review: Despite an excellent Kamal Haasan, a restrained Silambarasan TR, great production design and superb cinematography, Mani Ratnam’s film is a generic gangster drama that makes you grope in the dark for its beating heart

Mithoon, the maestro of melodies

Mithoon, the master of melody in Bollywood, shares his musical journey

Aamir Khan confirms ‘big-scale’ superhero action film with Lokesh Kanagaraj, to enter production in mid-2026 

Aamir Khan confirms superhero film with Lokesh Kanagaraj, denies PK 2 rumors, and plans Dadasaheb Phalke biopic.

‘Wicked: For Good’ trailer: Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande return for a grand finale at Oz

The official trailer for Wicked: For Good teases a magical sequel with returning stars and deeper character exploration.

Rana Daggubati weighs in on Kamal Haasan’s Kannada language controversy

Actor Rana Daggubati addresses backlash over Kamal Haasan's remarks on Kannada language, emphasizing societal expectations and cultural unity.

The Hindu Sunday crossword No. 7

The Hindu Sunday Crossword No 7

Malayalam film policy draft to be presented at conclave in August

Draft of Malayalam film industry policy to be discussed at government film conclave, addressing issues like gender equality and piracy.

Tamil play The Meaning of Malar explores relationship and gender dynamics

The Meaning of Malar, the Tamil play, which is inspired by Amir Levine’s book Attached explores relationship and gender dynamics

Chennai’s House of Klothberg hosts a contemporary art show in a retail setting

Experience art defying boundaries in a unique exhibition at The House of Klothberg, blending with sustainable fashion and everyday life.

Composer Christo Xavier on his latest track ‘Aspirin’: My aim was to create a poem with electronic music as a medium

Composer Christo Xavier finds inspiration in nature, creating electronic music with a poetic touch in his latest single 'Aspirin'.

Parking Slot | Free Parking GamePlay Parking Slot, the best online 3D car driving and parking game.Adv.
Slope Ball Run - Play OnlineSlope Game takes you on an exciting journey of a ball on special paths.Adv.
Watch: How Anurag Kashyap shot ‘Black Friday’

Shorts News:Watch: How Anurag Kashyap shot ‘Black Friday’

Watch: Chinmayi on Dhee: ‘Feels like a wrestling match we didn’t sign up for’

Shorts News:Watch: Chinmayi on Dhee: ‘Feels like a wrestling match we didn’t sign up for’

Sonam Kapoor celebrates 39th birthday with star-studded bash in Mumbai

Sonam Kapoor's 39th birthday celebration in Mumbai with Bollywood friends and family creates buzz online.

Interview | Malayalam filmmaker Vinod AK : ‘Moonwalk’ is inspired by several real-life stories

Vinod AK's directorial debut, Moonwalk, is a nostalgic journey back to the '80s breakdance era with real-life stories

‘The Accountant 2’ movie review: Adds up to a fairly good time

The Accountant 2: Ben Affleck’s second outing as the savant number-cruncher for the mob is a straightforward action thriller, packed with super tech, muscle cars, evil cartel bosses, flying bullets, and zinging chemistry between Affleck and Jon Bernthal

Enzo Staiola, unforgettable child actor of ‘Bicycle Thieves’, passes away

Italian actor Enzo Staiola, known for his role in Bicycle Thieves, passed away at 85 in Rome.

How the Kalamkari craft travelled from Srikalahasti to Thanjavur

Preserving the endangered art of Kalamkari through generations, Rajmohan and Narayanan keep tradition alive with quiet persistence.

‘Aabhyanthara Kuttavaali’ movie review: A one-sided pamphlet against Section 498A

‘Aabhyanthara Kuttavaali’ is marred by biased storytelling, lacking nuance and sidelining female perspectives, in a poorly made film

Parivadini Isai Malar - Vol 1 takes a peek into the life and contributions of past masters

Discover a detailed study on T. Janakiraman's music mastery, anecdotes on legendary musicians, and insightful articles in Parivadini Isai Malar.

New on Amazon Prime Video this week: ‘The Accountant 2’, ‘Stolen’, and more

Here is the complete list of highlights on Prime Video this week

Actor Akhil Akkineni ties the knot with Zainab Ravdjee

Actor Akhil Akkineni tied the knot with entrepreneur Zainab Ravdjee in a traditional Telugu style wedding attended by celebrities and family

‘Thug Life’ day 1 box office collection: Kamal Haasan’s film collects ₹17 crores on opening day

Ace filmmaker Mani Ratnam’s much-anticipated Tamil film Thug Life, starring Kamal Haasan and Silambarasan TR, collected ₹17 crores on its opening day, June 5, at the Indian box office

© 2008 - 2025 Webjosh  |  News Archive  |  Privacy Policy  |  Contact Us