Urban youth jives to rural beats, chhau to be precise.
The Seraikela Chhau performances of about 60 young proponents ' young college-goers in Ranchi ' at a Sunday function assured the audience, including Assembly Speaker C.P. Singh, that tradition was well and truly alive and beating.
"Our state has no dearth of talents. But they should be found out and properly encouraged. The government has a positive role in promoting such talent," the Speaker said while inaugurating the chhau dance mega event hosted by Natraj Art Institute, a cultural outfit of Ranchi with Union Club and Library at Plaza Hall on Sunday evening.
Nearly 60 young trainees, mostly girls, were taught chhau as practised in Seraikela during a 10-day workshop held at the club premises from January 19 to 28.
Conducted by Padma Shri Shyama Charan Pati, it was a bid to encourage a new generation in the highly stylised and technical folk dance form.
"My mission is keeping chhau vibrant and alive. I will hold a similar workshop in England shortly," Pati said.
His students presented dance pieces depicting well-known mythological episodes.
The opening one was Urubhanga, a scene from the Mahabharata war where Bhim broke Duryodhana's thigh in the one-on-one mace combat to avenge Draupadi's insult at the hands of the Kauravas.
The other episodes included Chandrabhaga, the story of a girl depicting the legend of the eponymous river that merged with the sea near Konark in Odisha, as well as the mythology of Hara-Parvati.
Though the trainees had little experience, and there were inadequacies in rhythm and footwork, the audience was lenient. "It is not possible for youngsters to master chhau in a short time. But if they continue practising, some may be good dancers," said a member of the audience.
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