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.

Part-III , Bihar is mixture of history & culture

Lord Buddha

Valmiki Nagar- is a small village of west Champaran district of Bihar . It is very near to Nepal border . There is various houses namely , Valmiki Ashram . Valmiki was the great author of the epic Ramayana . A famous myth about Valimiki , he was mugger in his past life and then his name was Ratnakar . One day Narad Muni the direct devotee of Lord Vishnu came to Ratnakar and asked him that why is he doing such bad work . Then Ratnakar told that this is his source of income and thus he maintained his family . Then Narad Muni told him that if anybody of his family will take share of his sin of such work . Ratnakar told to Narad Muni that , yes of course his family members will take share of his sin , but Narad Muni was not convinced , he then told to Ratnakar to go to his house and ask his family members of this matter . Ratnakar went to his house and asked his family members ; but they were not ready to share his sin . Then Ratnakar understood that Narad Muni is right . He came back and asked to Narad Muni with folding hands that how does he free from his sin . Narad Muni then told him to pray for Lord Vishnu and thus he will free from his sin . Ratnakr started his meditation and the same continued since long years / a year / the year and he was fully covered with termite houses and lastly became free from his sin and thereafter he was enlightened and he became a monk . Then his name converted from Ratnakar to Valmiki Rishi and created the great epic Ramayana . Every year , at the time of Makar Sankranti , a great festival is organized at the Valimiki Nagar . Moreover , river Gandak is added the beauty of that place.

Pawapuri- this is holy place of Bihar especially for Jains religious . This place is 38 km away from Rajgir and also 101 km from Patna . This place is very important from Jain people as the last tirthankar ; Lord Mahavira was taken his last breath before his death in 500BC . One famous Jain Temple is situated at the center of a pond at Pawapuri . Between Octobers to March are best time to visit this place . Sightseeing centering this places is Rajgir , Gaya , and Bodhgaya . Huge visitors use to come here from various places to enjoy Rajgir dance festival , Chhat puja , Arts & Crafts..

Tar Ramayan- Rama is a great character of Hindu religion . It is myth that Rama is the personification of Lord Vishnu . Rama is the popular figure among the Hindus . He is grate heroes in Hindus epics / an epic / the epic . Tar is at Bhojpur district of Bihar . Some of the experts , Tar name came from wizard Taraka who always tortured and harm to innocent people of the village . She was very strong wizards and no one had capacity to defeat her . People of Bhojpur were afraid of such wizard Taraka . The people were prayed for Lord Vishnu to defeat her and save their life . Thereafter , Rama was born and in due course he came to Tar and killed that wizard Taraka . Since then the people of Tar believe that Lord Vishnu is always with them to save their lives .

Jain Temple

Part-II, Bihar, A state of very visible places

Vishnupad Temple

Gaya- is situated 100 km distance from South Patna of Bihar. Gaya is very old town of Bihar and it has importance in Hindus and also in Buddhists religions. Gaya is situated on the bank of the river of Phalghu. The funny thing of this river is that its flow of water is under mud & sand. To take out water of this river, people generally dig slums in the river. There is a famous place near about 3 km distance centring Gaya and that is Bodh Gaya. There is a famous tree that is called, Bodhi Tree. One myth is about this tree; Gautam Buddha was enlisted here and became Lord Buddha. There is a famous temple, Vishnupad Temple.

Ahirauli is a small village in Buxer. It is situated within 5 km centring of Buxer town. There is temple of Devi Ahaya. There is a myth that, Devi Ahalya wife of rishi Gautam. One day for a mistake, the husband of Ahalya had given her a curse and she turned to stone. Then Ahalya asked her husband that who would be she again human being further; then her husband told her that once Lord Rama will reach here and he will touch his leg on the stone and then she will be again human being. The local people believe that Lord Rama is always with them and protect them from all kinds of curses.

Hasanpura- this is a small village at the south side of Siwan district about 21 km far from the town. This place is important for Makhdum Saiyed Hasan Chisti. He was great religious and soul. He came here from far distance of the land Arabia and stayed here since his last day of his life. Moreover, this village is famous for its beauty and picturesque profusion.

Champaran- this place is famous for the history of freedom movement of India against the colonial British ruler. Her Mahatma Gandhi was started nationalist movement of India.

Ramchura- this is a famous place at Vaishali of Bihar. This place is very beloved place for devotees of Lord Rama. It is myth that at the time of going to Janakpur, Lord Rama was taken rest here. The footprints of Lord Rama are still there. This is the place of festivals of Hindu religions.

Maner Sharif- this is vast village lies within about 32 km on the west of Patna. This place has its own historical impotence. This is the birth place of the famous Grammarian Panini. This place was famous at that time for learning of Muslim religion.

Rajgir- it is about 15 km distance from Nalanda. There is green forest surrounding Rajgir. This green forest has increased the beauty of this place. There has a temple of Lord Mahabir, the founder of Jain religion. So that, this place is famous holy place for Jain people. Earlier it was the capital of MagadhMahajanpad. Most popular matter is that Lord Buddha lived here many years. His first council had taken place at this place. This place is also famous for health resource like warm pond which has value medically and it is myth that skin problem will be solved after regular bathing in the warm pond.

Bihar- A state of ancient universities

Agriculture Field-Bihar

Bihar is one of the states of India . This state is known for its ancient universities . One of them is Nalanda University . This university was built in the year 450 CE . This university was controlled and conducted by Buddhist monks . Odantapura was recognized in the year 550 CE and Vilramshila was recognized in the year 783 AD . At that time these were the famous universities in central Asia ; huge students were come from different countries for their higher studies . Bihar is also a leading state in yoga ; and here has a well-known yoga school Bihar yoga school .

Earlier time , Magadha would call the center of power of education and culture . This tradition was carried for 100 years . Magadha , Mithila , Anga and Vaishali , these places were known for different religious & extravaganzas of ancient India . In the era 684 BC Haryanka dynasty were ruled upon Magadha for their capital city Rajgriha (now it is called Rajgir) . It was myth that king Bimbisara was imprisoned his father with the help of his son Ajatashatru and captured the throne of Magadha . Latter on Ajatasatru was setup one new capital called Patuliputra . Thus the history was rolling and Bihar conquered by different kings and thus it came at the hand of Nanda dynasty and thereafter Maurya Empire .

At their time Buddhism were ascended and they stream lined ancient Bihar to new Bihar with their rich concepts . Thereafter Bihar was known as important place of culture and learning for future 100 years . At the time of Gupta dynasty , education likes science , math , astronomy , commerce , India philosophy and also region was reached to the peak . That period was the golden period in ancient Indian history of education . At that cultural programs were flourished by the Gupta dynasty and one those cultural programs were Avigyanam Sakuntalam drama that was written the famous poet Kalidas in Sanskrit language.

Abhgyanam Sakuntalam, Drama

Thereafter came the Mughal period , Md . Bin Balhtiar Khilji During his time the famous universities and lots of Buddhists were decimated in the era 12 century . The economy of Bihar is depending up on agriculture , Industry & Services . Litchi production is huge in Bihar and best quality of Litchi is export to other countries . Generally Bihar based on small scale industries . The art and culture of Bihar is still famous in the country .

Maithili Painting This is desi style related to the place Mithila of Drabhanga district . They create desi colour from rice and this colour is permanent on the paintings . This is traditional style of Mithila . all their paintings are inspired from Ramayana . It is myth that , this tradition had been running from that time when the father of Sita , the King of Ajodhya , Janak instructed to artists for create paintings on the occasion of marriage of his daughter Sita with Lord Rama . Then such Mithila paintings were appreciated by the king and thus the tradition has been going on . There are so many Mithila painters ; but Sita Devi and some other artists are well known in the world for their legendary work on Mithila art and paintings .

Mithila Painting

The folk song of Bihar is famous for India . This is actually group songs . Few singers are sitting together and do their songs especially at the time of festivals , marriage ceremony , etc . Bihar enriches India in classical music . The famous Sanhai player , Ustad Bismilla Khan is world famous in his stream of Sanhai playing . This is an instrument which the player is like  the bugle . In size it is long than  a bugle  and it plays by breath of the player touching his lips .

The main festival of Bihar is Chhath Puja . The is the worshiping of Sun. it comes after Diwali of every year . Generally the devotees reach at the bank of the river before sunrise on the day of such worshiping days / a day / the day and dedicate various fruits like bananas , apple , mangoes , etc. into river . The Dala Chhath puja comes after every two year .

Lichhis

Ustad Bismilla Khan

Bihar Folk Group Song

There are so many place at Bihar to visit for tourists . I will tell about those places at next part .

Dhanbad- A Coal Mines District

View of Bokaro  Steel City

I was transferred at Dhanbad and lived there for four-five years approximately. Dhanbad is basically Coal mines and industrial district. In earlier at my time of living, it was under the state of Bihar on India.  Dhanbad was constituted in the year of 1956 by the Indian Parliament. In earlier most, at the time of colonial British rule, Bengal-Bihar-Orissa was together as a block. Actually this is the place of tribal like Santali, Koll, Val, Munda tribes. Earlier it was spread up to Nagpur and called Chota- Nagpur.

Dhanbad City

Damodar River is the main river of this district. It joints Bokaro, Konar and Barakar rivers. The Barakar river bridge joints Bengal and Jharkhand. The other rivers covering Dhanbad are Mayurakshi, Koyal, Sankh, Son, Auranga, More, Bansoli, Kharki, Swarna. I lived at Katras which is near the Bank More of Dhanbad city. From Howrah there are three-four trains are available which are directly go to Dhanbad. Black Diamond and Coalfield, these two trains are regularly up down up to Dhanbad. Steel express and Saktipunj, these two trains also regularly up down from Howrah, but they go to Bokaro & Patratur respectively via Dhanbad. Other than these trains, there are local trains from Assansol station. Except all these are so many long distance trains which also stop at Dhanbad station. It is also possible to reach to Dhanbad by road.

Fire Chamber of Steel Factory 

 Purulia, Bankura, these districts of Bengal are very nearby of Dhanbad. Different types of mother language speaking from different religions people are living at Dhanbad. Various religion festivals are famous at Jharkhand like Chatra Exhibition, Lawalong Exhibition, etc. culturally Dhanbad is also sound; rock art, per-harappan poetry, pre-historic cave paintings are also famous. The tribal’s dance and songs are most famous in India. Woodwork, paintings of pitkar, ornaments of tribal, doll, baskets are made of stone all the significant of Dhanbad’s rich culture and crafts.

The climate of this place is very hot at the summer time and also very cold at the winter time. Almost it can be said the climate is extreme. In the year 2000, Jharkhand was declared as a new state.

  There are so many visible places like; Maithan Dam- it is nearly 45 km from Dhanbad station. Here is boating facility.  Charak Pathar. This is the local name of this place. This is a large piece of white stone and thus this place name is like that. Chati Gobindapur- here is two pillars; one is in the name of Emperor Asoka and next one is in the name of Sher Sha. Gopalpur- this place is in Nirsa & Chirkunda, it is the significant for an ancient pillar of Emperor Ashka, Jhinjhipahari- this place is significant for an ancient temple of Lord Shiva, it was found at the time of digging for coal mine, Maithon Dam- from Dhanbad it is 52 km. it is constructed on the river Barakar. Here is a power station DVC. Here is a lake with resort for staying. Boating with fishing is also the attraction of this lace.

 Just within few km, there is a very old temple Kalyaneswari.  Panchet Dam is another attraction of Dhanbad. It is situated at the height of 134 fits of the Panchet hill. Bokaro steel plant is the next attraction of Dhanbad. It is approximate 47 km for Dhanbad. Thereafter so many other places are there to visit like, lower & upper Ghaghri water falls, Koel river view spot, Lodh Fall, Sadani Fall,etc