Purulia- Part-07: Most Attraction-Chhau Nritya

Chhau Dance Mask

Chhau Dance is origin from Purulia district. This is one of the  old and ancient folk dance forms of India. Chhau means chhaya and chhaya means shadow or mask. This dance form is also called “Mask Dance”. This is generally male dance form. The director of this dance  is pick a dramatic part the epic Ramanaya and Mahabhrat and also from the life of local people especially to those villagers who are hero of them.
Chhau dance has three forms from three province of India. One is Purulia Chhau Dance, second one is Bihar Chhau Dance and third one is Mayurbhanj of Orissa Chhau Dance. According to the geographical situation, these three forms of Chhau Dances have some little difference. Otherwise, all are same.
There are so many groups who are engaged to thei dance form; they are Domordi-Group, Birgram-Group, Madla-Group, etc. chhau dance is mainly a Bhumij Art. Especially this dance is for festival dance. As per the Bengali calendar, the month of  Chaitra is the proper time of Sun festival and on this occasion this chhau dance is generally performed. This Sun festival is generally continue for one and half month. But the popularity of chhau dance, it is not within the limit period of Sun Festival, now this dance form is also shown in different festivals of the year.
This is can be said easily that, like other old and ancient items, this chhau dance has also passed through various odd situations which are push it before the question, is this dance form survive? But the artists who are rural villagers of the districts Medinipur, Purulia, kept  this dance form alive inspite of facing lot of struggle and obstructions. Most of the villagers of Charida of Baghmundi of Purulia district are generally engaged in makinf of mask for chhau dance. These masks are verity in numbers and all of these masks are made of clay and old news papers. The makers of such mask are very much conversant with the epic like Ramanaya and Mahabharat and als the Brigatha of the local leaders. According to the chhau dance groups, they are able to make masks for different characters of the play. But most of the plays are mythological. It is shown the defeat of evil power and win of truth.
Generally, there is no specific stage or platform to show this dance performance. In most time this dance is perform at the open place where the villagers are use to sit roundly. This chhau dance is normally is start at night and carry sometime upto the next day morning.  Mridang or durm is the vital instrument of this dance performance. Before starting such dance, the drum player is normally play drum to worship God Ganesha. Alongwith drum, dhol dhamsa are also used. Moreover, song with this dance performance is very essential and one kathak thakur who explain or narrate the episode of the mythological eipc to the audiences. One thing is also very noticeable that, the artists of chhau dance are not capable to show their mood of the character as there are mask, they fulfill this defiance through their body movement.

Purulia-06- Dances and Songs and Crafts

Natua Dance: This is an ancient dance form of this district. Natua means Nataraj which was performed by Lord Shiva. There is a mythological believe that the Nandi & Vringi the two wel known devotees of Lord Shiva were performed this kind of dance at the time of marriage of their lord with Goddess Durga. This dance is not so easy to perform; it is very acrobatic dance form with many tricks with fire are involved in this dance form.
Bhuang: this is another dance form which performed by the tribes at the time autumn. This is a emotional piece of dance which dancers are use one kind of instrument called bhuyung which has very distinct sound.
Jhumur:  Another most famous folk music of this district. The most remarkable and originality of this song is that this form does not follow any definite form. This is also very popular and significant for its lyric and literary of ancient language among the Santali, Munda, Oraon, Kharia, Jhumur songs are different for different festivals. Mdal, Flutie, drum, etc all typical instruments are played during Jhumur songs. The specialty of Jhumur is that its expresses sorrow and joy of the common people with their lifestyle, their dreams, their dissatisfactions, etc. the characteristic of such Jhumur is love and kindness for life.
Birta Dance: This is also a traditional dance of Purulia district. Generally women who are unable to give birth of child perform this kind of dance to admire their God after fulfilling their wishes. This kind of dance is only can be performed by the women. It is belief that their children are born due to the blessing of God. So they are very thankful to their God and such dance is performed to worship to God.

Picture of Fishes- Patua Art

Picture of Goddess Manasa- Patua Art

Patua Art: Patua Art means, an art which is performed on the pot.Generally the patua artists are belonging to the villages. They learn this art generation after generation, from father to son or daughter. The Patua artists are generally picked the vital portion of epic like Ramayana and Mahabharata; not only that they also consider the local theme for their Patua art. They also consider the tribal lifestyle and Birgatha (heroic life of their surroundings. They are generally try to describe the story of their theme of art. The patua artists are generally show their art at any Mela or fair to the local and gathered public and earn some money.    Sometime this art is also performed on long cloths. At the time of showing the arts they narrate the basic story of the picture on sing format. This kind of traditional art is almost disappeared as the same has not publicity and development policy adopt by the Government. Patua artists are not getting enough income showing such art publicly; so that, the next generation is not being interested very much to carry this traditional art form. Recently,  the state and as well as Central Government of India have taken some effective step to survive such traditional and ancient art form.

Purulia- Part-05=Festival & Culture

Manasa Pua: Manasa is the Goddess of Snake. It comes at the last day of Sraban month of Bengali Calendar. This time is rainy season in Bengal Calendar. Generally on 15th or 16th of the August month people worship such Goddess of Snake. It is the faith of common people mainly of villagers that admire to the Goddess Manasa will protect them from snake bite; because most of the farmers are passed their time at the cultivation field, so naturally snake bite fears are very common of them.
Chata Parab: This is a famous Santali Parab or festival. According to the custom and tradition, the representative of the Phnchakot  Royal Family strat this festival by rising one white umbrella. This festival comes every year at mid of the September and as per Bengali calendar Bhadra month. A big fair is arranged during this time and huge Santhali people are gathered here from various parts of the adjacent districts. Special type of songs and dance are being performed during this festival like Naachin, Pata, etc and such dance and songs are normally continue throughout the night.

Bhadu Festival: This is very popular festival of this district and it generally held at the mid of August and continue upto the mid of September.  This is the faith of the common people of Purulia that worshiping Bhadu Devi means childless woman will bear children. Generally folk women arrange this worship and they sing various related songs to admire Devi Bhadu.
Karam Festival: This is also very famous folk festival in Bengal especially at Purulia. This festival is generally arranged within the middle of August to September of every year. During this festival different crops with full of big dhamas are offered to the God. These dhamas’ full crops are kept for seeds for further cultivation.





Bandhana Parab: this is another remarkable festival of Purulia. Bandana Parab means worshiping festival. It celebrates during the time of autumn or specifically say in the month of October of every year. Bandana Parab is actually welcomes or worshiping of Goddess of Grains.
Tushu Festival: This is also very famous festival of Bengal. This festival is generally show the colorful lifestyle and musical ceremony of tribes. Normally this festival is held in the month of December of every year and such fair is arranges on the bank of the river. During this festival, women are generally exchange their wealth and cook eight verities of foods and lastly offer to the Tusu Goddess.
Palash Parban: This festival is comes on March of every year during the color festival Holi. The whole world knows that Holi is a famous festival of India.  Each and every corner of the country this festival of color is being celebrate every year with very pride and joy. In Purulia, it celebrates for three days and entire arrangement is made by the villagers. On the occasion of this festival various traditional dance and songs are performed by the artists of villages. Last year i.e. on 2013, this program was organized by the Edge of India Purulia Co-Operative.
Other than these eminent festivals, there are so many festivals are organized by the villagers like DurgaPuja, Kali Puja, Saraswati Puja, Rass Mela, etc.

Purulia- Part-04=Festival & Culture

Picture of Lord Shiva

Most of the people of Purulia district are tribes. Most of them are live under the poverty line. Their monthly income is very poor that they can’t provide their minimum basic needs of the life. Even then, according to their income, they manage all of their festivals and cultures and thus they have been carrying the torch of traditional festivals and culture of Purulia.

Picture of the Fair of Shiver Gajan

Shiber Gajan: The meaning of “Gajan” is songs; so, Siber Gajan means, songs of Lord of Shiva. Between March and May is the proper time of such festival. During this period all villagers of Purulia organized this festival. This time of festival, big melas or fairs are organized in different parts of the district by various community people; they sing various songs to admire to Lord Shiva and Goddess Gaudi. On this occasion various dance forms are performed like Natua, Bhagta,Theatre, Nanchi and Chhau with the various color of songs like Jhumur, etc. most remarkable of this Siber Gajan, the Bahurupi Sang group of the village, dress up themselves like Lord Shiva and Gaudi and move village to village and collect some rupees by showing Shiva Nritya and Gajan  with the accessories like Dholak(Drum), Kanshar ( one kind of round metal item and also flute. Such Shiber Gajan and fair are generally continue for three- four days.

Disum Sendra

Disum Sendra: This is called Shikar Parab means Hunting Festival. During the month of April and May of each year, during full moon, such hunting festival is taken place at the Ayodhya Hills. Generally this festival is the symbol of adulthood. Those people who are recently reach their adulthood drink brew (brew means Mahul Juice) and move forward on their hunting adventure.
Dharma Thakurer Puja: This is a famous god of the cast like Bauri, Bagdi, Hari and Dom of the village. Every year from the middle of April to middle of May, such villagers are worship to Dharma Thakurer Puja. This kind of god is normally is a big piece of stone to whom villagers are worship as god and such god is kept under a tree and open place.
Rohini Utsav: Farmers of Purulia district are generally distinguish this Rohini Utsav. Every year in the last week of May, farmers are plant seeds and celebrate.This hope is for future corps which will comes from seeds that they have planted.
Sun Festival: Normally this festival is called Poush Parbon. This is very popular festival in Bengal. Most of the districts of Bengal are arrange this festival. Most of the farmers’ families are being delighted during this festival. On 14th January of every year this festival is celebrated by the Bengali farmers. During this festival, Bengali females of farmers families are generally arrange various Bengali sweets, coconut and milk and offer to the god. This is the worship of Sun as god. This worship season is Poush Sankranti; this is a very delighted festival.

Purulia- A decent tourist place of West Bengal, Indi Part-03.

Rice Cultivation- Purulia

Boronti: Suppose you have a dream that you will visit such a place where has a decent lake which is covered by hills and small plants, then Boronti is the ideal place for you. This place is also ideal for weekend as the same is very closest to the town. How to reach there? Very easy, take night train and reach to Adra and from there take local train to Asansol and then take Jeep or rickshaw to the spot.
Doldanga: this place is situated on the reservoir of Kansabati basin at Manbazar Panchayat Simity. This place is ideal for picnic parties. Why this place is is so attractive for tourists? Because here has huge water body, deer park, dense forest and also an island at the middle of the reservoir that has increased the beauty of the place. Moreover, the forest department of West Bengal has also built up a small house for taking rest. They generally arrange various cultural programs for entertaining tourists. Another famous tourist place is Mukutmanipur which is nearly five km distance from this place; there are available bus, private car by road or we can go there by boat also.   
Keshargarh: this place was named following the name of Maharaja Keshargarh. According to history, Maraja was fought against the aggression of British Rulers, but he failed to resist such aggression and British Ruler was looted the treasury of Purulia Treasury. The Maharaja was hanged by the British Rulers.The fort of Keshargarh is still standing in a rundown condition with other leftover periodic items which are also attraction of the tourists. One famous mela ( Fair) called “Melan Mela” is held every year on the remembrance of the death of Maharaja Keshargarh. This place is almost thrity-five km distance from Purulia Town. 
Murguma Dam: This dan is situated at the north of Begunfodar of Jhalda Block. It is fifty-five km distance from Purulia Town. The dam is on the offshoot of Kangsabati river. This is alos very nice picnic spot and weekend too. The magnificent beauty of Ayodhya Hill is clearly visible from this dam.
Murradih Irrigation Dam: It is nearly fifteen km distance from Panchyet Hill. This is a big water body which is surrounded by small hills and natural beauty. In winter season, it becomes colorful by various nice looking lowers and that time this place becomes a famous picnic spot. Huge traveling birds come here during the winter time.
Panechet Pahar( Hill): Panchet Pahar(hill) is situated at the corner of north-east of Purulia. It is the border line between two state i.e.West Bengal and Jharkhand and also close to north-west of Burdwan district of Bengal. This hill  is situated ner to Panchet dam on the river of Damodar Nad. The high of the is 2017 ft above sea level and this is the second highest hill of Pururlia. This Panchet Pahar is also famous for its density of forest. Earlier this hill was under the control of Panchakot Raj estate. The historical importance of this hill was due to as safe place to counter to enemies.The top of the hill is easy to get to by the forest road which is maintained by the forest department of Bengal. This place offers very pleasant and decent scenery of the surrounding view of dam and the forest. The tourism department of Bnegal have currently constructed dormitory and suites at the eco- tourism center at Baghmara of panchet hill. The booking of such accommodations are available from the tourism’s Kolkata office at Raja Subodh Mallick Square. This hill is very nearest of Purulia town and also very close to Adra junction and Barakar Rail station.

Purulia- A decent tourist place of West Bengal, Indi Part-02.

Lotus of Purulia

Purulia Town- Purulia Town is one of the famous towns of West Bengal. This town is the head quarter of this district. This twon is well connected with various rails and roads.
Saheb Bandh- this is very nice and beautiful lake covering nearly 50 acres of land.at the mid of 19th Century, this lake was built. Colonel Tikley was started his work of digging this lake in the year 1843 and it took nearly five-six year to be completed. This lake is heaven for all kind of birds especially migrated birds who generally comes from Baluchistan, Siberia and other various parts of the world. During the winter season, these migrated birds comes to India and stay through the entire season.
Cheliama- is one of the famous tourist posts of Purulia district. This place is very attractive or we may call heaven for historians and also archeologists, because here has lots of potentiality of 17 AD’s civilization. Lots of terracotta works of the ancient time are found here. Apart of these items, here has a temple of Radha-Govinda which is also most attraction of tourists of the entire world.
Deulghat- this is a Bengali word; the meaning of this word is Land of Temples. Here has nearly 15 temples and this place is situated near Krishna River. There are many reasons which have made this place very attractive as tourist spot and one of these reasons is coupled with graceful carvings. Though the ancient arts and sculptures of these temples are almost destroyed by the storm of time; yet this place is same attractive like before.
Ayodhya Pahar (Hill)- this is another attraction of Purulia. This hill is located at the South-West of Purulia. It is nearly 42 km distance from the Purulia town.This hill is very much attractive for the tourists for its fresh water spring and water course. This hill is nearly 700mtr high. This is the perfect place to practice of mountaineering and rock climbing. This place has  beautiful nature and mythological  value.
Para- this is village and tourist spot which reminds us about the arrival of Muslims to the Eastern India. There are two types of duels, one is contemporary of Deulghat and other one is latter period. These two types proved their excellent of the impressive architecture and file craving works era after era. Such heritage buildings bounds to come tourists here.
Khairabera: This is a dam which is generally used for irrigation purpose. This dam is situated at Baghmundi. It is covered by hills and forest. This is also an attraction of Purulia. It’s beauty and pleasant atmosphere always attracts tourists.
Duarsini: This place is surrounded by small hills, forests and also  watercourses of various rivers. The beauty and charming of this place brings huge tourists. This is actually situated within the block of Burdwan. The forest department of this place has constructed three different types of racial cottages with double bed accommodation for tourists’ purpose.

Purulia- A decent tourist place of West Bengal, India: Part-01

SUNRISE- PURULIA DISTRICT

Purulia is one of the districts of West Bengal which is one of the provinces of India. There are so having many places which are really most attractive tourist spots.
This is my always try to discover India and its provinces in form through my eyes. India is a most famous and finest country of the world. Thus entire world has curiosity about India specially tourists of the world.
I have an aim to open this blog site and that is encouraged to all tourists of the world. I want to spread a message to all tourists of the world about India as well as of its provinces.
I think and believe that before to start to visit any place, we have to do good home work; we have gathered a lot of information about the place where we have planned to visit. This home work is to know little about the pre-history, post-history and how it becomes a travel place, etc.
From the point of pre-ancient history, Purulia was very important place in India. Then the time was 5th century AD, according to the Jain Bhgawati Sutra, this place was one of 16th Mahajanapad. This place was also known as one of the part of Braja-Bhumi. Thereafter Purulia was the part of Jharkhand district and lastly it was added in West Bengal Map. Before taking the Dewani by British India Company, this Purrulia was very little known by the people.
India was under the ruled by the British Government for nearly 200 years. In the year of 1805, a Jungle Mahal district was formed by the earlier British Government of India with 23 Parganas including Purulia. Thereafter this district was came under the Manbhum District including Birbhum, Bardwan. 
After 1956, lastly the Manbhum district was broken and partitioned between West Bengal and Bihar; thus the Purulia district was born as independent district of West Bengal in 1st November 1956.
The Approximate are of this district is 6259 sq.km. the nearest districts are Burdwan, Bankura, Paschim Medinipur and also the state Jharkhand, Madhyapradesh, Odissa.  This is one of the tropical locations of India. In summer, the temperature of this district is closest to 52 degree and in winter such degree comes down to 3.8 degree. The rainfall of this district is not much. In monsoon, the humidity of this place is remain 75 to 85%, but in winter it comes down 25 to 35% approx.
The most visited places of this district are, Forests, Flora & Fauna, Ajodhya Hills, Matha, Murguma Dam & Kuilapal Forest, Jaychandi Pahar, Panchakote Raj, Duarsini Hills, etc. here I would like to inform that Tourism is one of most source of income of this district. Due to taught weather and soil, the agriculture of Purulia district is backward in comparison of other districts of West Bengal. The main agriculture products of this district are Silk & Lac (gum).
Kangsabati, Kumari, Silabati, Dwarakeswar, Subarnarekha and Dmodar are important rivers which flow across this district. There are so many dams like Murguma, Pardi, Burda, Gopalpur. The storage water of these dams are generally use for irrigation purpose of this district. Another dam is Saheb Bandh, this is famous and trendy dam for water bodies of this district. This dam is located at the heart of the town of this district. This dam is a big shelter of travelling birds which comes from various parts of the country like Bangladesh, Burma, Pakistan, and Baluchistan at the time of winter season like December to March.