| Chhou Naach (Chhou Dance):There are very little | | | | "Mahabharat" and "Ramayan". This mythological |
| documentations available on traditional art, craft | | | | touch in Chhou dance makes it very spiritual and |
| and culture of tribal of Jharkhand, India. This article | | | | respectful. The characters of Chhou dance wear |
| provides an overview of one of the most exciting | | | | traditions ornaments and dance with weapons. |
| tribal dance "Chhou Naach" which is yet to be | | | | Their cloths |
| explored completely. However, state government | | | | are very colourful. Chhou dance should NOT be |
| of Jharkhand, India organizes various cultural | | | | misunderstood with other folk dances of India like |
| events in the state but Chhou dance is very | | | | Kuchipudi etc. Chhou dance involves lots of |
| rarely done. This is not because people performing | | | | gymnastic actions in the dance sequences and |
| Chhou dance are | | | | most of the characters are very aggressive in |
| conservative, but because of lack of knowledge | | | | nature. This dance drama is supported by |
| or lack of promotion of this traditional dance form. | | | | traditions nagada(Drums) and flute as background |
| This article is a little effort for the promotion of | | | | sound and rhythm of dance action varies with the |
| Traditional Tribal Culture.Locality:Chhou dance is | | | | modulations of drum beats. The audience enjoying |
| found in the tribal areas of Jharkhand and some | | | | Chhou Naach feels increase in their heart |
| parts of Chattisgarh and Orissa states of India. | | | | beats.Unlike other tribal dances, direct contribution |
| There are no specific evidences available which | | | | from women in Chhou dance is not visible. This |
| describe the actual history behind Chhou dance. | | | | also makes Chhou dance different from other |
| Hence, it is assumed that Chhou dance is one of | | | | folk dances of tribes.For more literature and |
| the advanced dance form of traditional tribal | | | | pictures on "Chhou Naach" please subscribe for |
| dance which has developed gradually during the | | | | the free newsletters on This source of this article |
| course of interactions with other neighboring | | | | "Unexplored Tribal Dance" is |
| cultures.Introduction:"Chhou Naach" is a dance | | | | a website dedicated to promote "Rare and |
| mostly done in open field and in the night. The | | | | Offbeat Artworks" all over the world. For more |
| dance arena is generally surrounded by fire poles | | | | information and pictorial on Chhou Dance, please |
| called mashaal for lighting purpose. However, due | | | | visit " welcomes articles on Chhou dance from |
| to the urbanization in some parts, fire poles have | | | | other readers and writers to enrich the |
| been replaced by electrical lights. The artists go | | | | documentation.This article is written by Mr. |
| for a bath and puja before performing this dance | | | | Shandilya Ajay Singh, a |
| as the characters they play are of gods. The | | | | freelance writer from India who writes as his |
| Chhou dancers use big size colourful decorative | | | | hobby. The writer belongs to Jharkhand, India and |
| masks. These masks are made of paper mache', | | | | spent more than 21 years in the woods and |
| light wood and paper. Chhou naach is a tribal form | | | | valley of Jharkhand. The writer may be directly |
| of "nritya natika" (Dance Drama) where various | | | | contacted on |
| characters with Chhou masks play mythological | | | | shandilya_a[a]yahoo. |
| characters. Most of these plays are based on | | | | |