Chhau lovers rue EC cash curb

Amarendra Bose / TNN / Apr 5, 2009, 06:03 IST

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The annual three-day Chhau dance extravaganza has suffered a major setback this year, due to Election Commission of India's curbs on government expenditure in view of the coming Assembly and LS polls.

BARIPADA: The annual three-day Chhau dance extravaganza has suffered a major setback this year, due to Election Commission of India's curbs on government expenditure in view of the coming Assembly and LS polls.
The famous Mayurbhanj style of Chhau dance will be held between April 10 and 12 during the annual Chaitra Parva. But Chhau lovers and performers fear that the event that was usually patronized by the government will suffer in the absence of government funding.
Not only will the event not get any financial assistance, it would also not get government-sponsorship for awards meant to honour the best rural troupes and artists, sources indicated.
The two registered "Sahis", "Uttarsahi" and "Dakshinsahi" Chhau organizations, that had been grooming artistes over the years, were particularly taken aback.

Dipak Das, president of the Uttarsahi Chhau dance troupe, blamed the department of tourism and culture for failure to make preparations for the fete before the enforcement of the model code of conduct. "Aid or no aid, we will celebrate the annual Chhau dance festival during the Chaitra Parva on the stipulated date," Das added.
The Mayurbhanj style of Chhau dance has gained in popularity across the coastal districts and its dancers have earned great laurels in several countries. The dance form transcends all geographical boundaries and knows no language, caste or community barriers, Das said and narrated the story of two muslim boys who were groomed by Uttarsahi during their early teens. "We were surprised when these two boys came to our "aakhda" (dance training centre) for training, as most themes of this dance form are derived from Hindu mythologies and epics. They did well in chanting these themes," Dipak pointed out.

Kartikeswar Rana, secretary of the Dakshinsahi Chhau dance troupe, also reassured their determination to celebrate the annual Chhau Dance festival and the Chaitra Parva from April 10 to 12 at the Chhau Padia at Baripada by mopping up their own resources,
Rana claimed that the Dakshinsahi has a good team of 30 trained dancers, of whom 12 are women dancers. "We also have a good team of musicians specialized in Chhau music," Rana said and rued, "Had it been Rathayatra time, could anyone put a curb on Lord Jagannath's ceremonial drive for elections or the model code of conduct.
"The annual fete requires financial aid to the tune of nearly Rs 4 lakh. Of this, the department of tourism and culture provides assistance to the tune of Rs 1 lakh, the ORMAS contributes another Rs 1 lakh towards the rent for utilizing the Chhau Padia for organizing a "Pallishree Mela" for display and sale of exquisite wares from rural Orissa," official sources said. The mela, which is held during the Chaitra Parva, has been cancelled due to the elections," sources added. Besides, the Mayurbhanj Chhau Nrutya Pratisthan used to publish a souvenir during the annual fete to mop up revenue in the form of advertisements, sources added.

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