ICHCAP

Contact Base (aka, banglanatak dot com), an India-based non-profit organisation working for inclusive and sustainable development using culture as a tool, hosted a Chhau Dance Festival in Jharkhand from March 28–30, 2025. This festival celebrated three variants of Chhau dance, a UNESCO-recognized Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (2010) and a vibrant tradition of eastern India. Rooted in martial arts, the three genres of Chhau—Seraikela, Purulia (also known as Manbhum), and Mayurbhanj—are practiced across the eastern Indian states of West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Odisha. Among these, Seraikela-Kharsawan district in Jharkhand is unique as it is the only place where all three forms coexist. Seraikela Chhau is characterized by its small masks and a semi-classical dance style infused with martial elements. Manbhum Chhau features elaborate masks, vibrant costumes, and strong martial influences. Kharsawan Chhau, blending Seraikela and tribal dance styles, replaces masks with facial paint, akin to Mayurbhanj Chhau. Despite their stylistic differences, all three forms draw inspiration from mythology, nature, and local life, preserving a rich cultural tradition.

Supported by Axis Bank Foundation, this three days festival showcased five dance troupes of each of these three Chhau styles: Seraikela, Kharsawan and Manbhum with participation of over 300 artists, 20 Gurus, mask and instrument makers. Held in a rural cultural space in Jharkhand, this festival provided a vital platform for safeguarding and promoting Chhau, nurturing awareness, and building connections. Workshops led by senior practitioners encouraged hands-on learning in dance, mask-making, and instrument crafting. Panel discussions facilitated exchanges between practitioners and scholars, while daytime heritage awareness sessions engaged 750+ students coming from neighbourhood schools. The evenings culminated in enthralling performances, featuring themes spanning mythology, nature, and daily life.

The festival embedded in the ethos of praxis, fostered deep connections between Chhau’s diverse variants and practitioners, creating a collaborative space for learning and artistic exchange. This interaction sowed the seeds for innovation while reinforcing tradition, building the premise for sustainable safeguarding, intergenerational transmission, and recognition of Chhau as a living heritage of humanity.