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