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Chhau Bengal2, originally uploaded by ramesh_lalwani.

Chhau dance (or Chau dance) is form of tribal martial dance attributed to origins in Mayurbhanj princly state of Orissa.and seen in the Indian states of West Bengal, Jharkhand and Orissa. There are three subtypes of the dance, based on the original places where the subtypes were developed. Seraikella Chau was developed in Seraikella, the administrative head of the Seraikela Kharsawan district of Jharkhand, Purulia Chau in Purulia district of West Bengal and Mayurbhanj Chau in Mayurbhanj district of Orissa. Purulia Chhau
Chhau in West Bengal, referred to as the Purulia Chhau, has a distinctive character of its own. It has received international acclaim and scaled rare heights of beauty and perfection. The approved theme of the West Bengal tableaux in the 1995 Republic Day celebrations at New Delhi was Chhau dance. Essentially a festival dance, Chhau was originally performed on the occasion of the Sun Festival towards the end of the month of Chaitra (March-April). The situation has changed with time, as Chhau is now performed during some other festivals and at other times of year as well.[1]
The Chhau dance is epical in content, and is based on various episodes of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Sometimes certain episodes of the Puranas are also used. The dominant rasas are Vira and Rudra. In the end, generally, forces of evil are vanquished and the righteous triumphs. In the villages, no dais or raised platform is used; the dance takes place on the ground around which, the spectators sit in a circle. When performing outside their villages the dancers often use the stage.
source wikipedia