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Chau Dance
about chau

Chau dance is a tradition of the eastern Indian states of West Bengal, Jharkhand and Odisha


about chau

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mask making

Chau masks are made from paper pulp, mud and clay and undergo many interim processes before taking the final form.

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performance

The traditional dance is performed at open spaces at the rhythm of various kinds of traditional musical instruments like Dhol, Dhamsa, Charchari, Tikra and Nagra, Mahuri, Sanai and flute.

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Falguni Sutradahar

Falguni Sutradahar is a very well known artist in mask making work. He is always in search of new creative in his work . Apart from the traditional mask, he introduced many new creative’s which were being praised by many people. He participated in many state and national fair exhibitions not only to sell his […]

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Triguni Sutradhar

Triguni Sutradhar lives in the village charida of Bagmundi block in Puruliia district. He is a mask making artist and learnt this work from his father and grandfather when he was 10 years old. Currently he is 55 years old and continuing his work with the other young artists of his family. Triguni Travelled many […]

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Sajal Dutta

Sajal Dutta 51 years of age resides in the village charida and learnt the mask making work from his childhood. He father was the guru who supported him lot to practice this craft making work. He attended in many national seminar and exhibitions to showcase their product. His in-depth knowledge of this work acclaimed by […]

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Parimal Dutta

Parimal, 35 year of age, known as an efficient chaw mask maker lives in the village charida of Bagmundi block in Puruliia district. To learn this work he was guided by his father Bimal Dutta at the age of 7. This young artist can able to develop different type of mask and the people who […]

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Dharmendra Sutradhar

Dharmendra Sutradhar, 33, started making masks when he was 10 years old. Mask making is a traditional craft for him and many other artists living in Charida village, Purulia. He makes traditional masks meant for Chau dance and several innovative masks based on varied themes. Dharmendra has made masks on literary works like Tasher Desh, […]

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Jagannath Choudhury

Jagannath Choudhury is a leading Chau dancer from Maldi village of Purulia.

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Mousumi Choudhury

Mousumi is a leading woman Chau dancer from Maldi village of Purulia. She inspired other girls of the region to join the traditional dance forms which is dominated by men. 

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Biren Kalindi

Biren Kalindi is a leading Natua & Chau dance artist from Purulia. He leads a troupe named Biren Kalindi Chau Nach Gosthi. He is also an expert player of traditional musical instruments.

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Binadhar Kumar

Binadhar Kumar is a veteran Chau dancer who began dancing at the age of 14. He has learnt from his father Ramnath Kumar who was a noted dancer and his Guru.

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Kartik Singh Mura

Kartik Singh Mura is an eminent Chau artist from Purulia district. He learnt Chau dance from his father, legendary Chau artist and Padma Shri award winner Gambhir Singh Mura.

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Anil Mahato

Anil Mahato is a highly revered, veteran Chau artist from Dubrajpur village of Purulia district.

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Baghambar Singh Mura

Baghambar Singh Mura is a leading, veteran Chau dancer from Gobindapur village of Baghmundi block in Purulia district.

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Chau Masks

A rich repertoire of masks of gods, heroes from folklore and mythology,  birds and animals

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Chau Jhumur Festival was held at Bamnia, Jhalda II, Purulia on 28 – 30 March 2023.

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gallery

A collection of images of
Chau dance and Chau masks

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Gallery

recognition

GIIn 2010 the Chau dance was inscribed in the UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Purulia Chau Mask has received the Geographical Indications (GI) tag in 2018. The GI tag conveys an assurance of quality and distinctiveness which is essentially attributable to the fact of its origin in that defined geographical locality, region or country.