The Chhau Dance of Purulia

Photo: Sumit Chakraborty

Abstract: Among the three variations of the martial dance form, Purulia Chhau has a distinctive ethos. Traditionally performed to celebrate the sun festival, year long cultural extravaganzas today provide a wide canvas for its dissemination. Thematic content in Purulia Chhau is drawn from epical stories and the mask is the most characteristic part of the dance.

The author is a freelance writer and photographer from Kolkata. Email: goodfriends19@gmail.com. Partly sourced from www.purulia.gov.in