NCPA Lok Gatha

NCPA Lok Gatha

Seraikella Chhau – by Acharya Chhau Nrutya Bichitra

An NCPA Presentation  

Lok Gatha serves as a platform dedicated to promoting and preserving tribal and folk traditions and rituals. This year, we present Seraikella Chhau by Acharya Chhau Nrutya Bichitra.

Seraikella Chhau is a prominent dance form of Jharkhand, rooted in the Singhbhum Dynasty and developed by warrior Paikas. The arrival of Odia people in the 16th century introduced influences like Gotipua, shaping its evolution. Drawing inspiration from nature, daily life, and animals, it remains a community art central to Chaitra Parva rituals. Originating from indigenous dance and martial traditions, Seraikella Chhau formed a distinct movement vocabulary and diverse themes—folk, mythological, and abstract. Its signature feature is the stylized mask. Along with Mayurbhanj and Purulia forms, Chhau was inscribed in 2010 as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Acharya Chhau Nrutya Bichitra (ACNB), founded by Late Guru Lingaraj Acharya in Seraikella (Jharkhand) and later in Delhi, is a leading institute for Seraikella Chhau. Guru Acharya was among the last Gurus of the Purtosahi Akhada, one of Seraikella’s eight traditional schools. ACNB artists have represented India across major international festivals in Canada, Korea, Thailand, Germany, Japan, Indonesia and many more through ICCR and independent tours. Several Gurus and artistes have been honoured with national awards including Padma Shri and Sangeet Natak Akademi. The institution boasts of a documentary film been made on the ACNB artistes with the support of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. The institute houses a library, museum and artist hostel in Seraikella.

The presentation will include the following items:

1. Jatra Ghat
   Is a musical offering that evokes the gods and marks the beginning of a Seraikella Chhau performance. The evocative tune accompanied by the frenzied play of drums seeks to bring blessings of the patron deities to the performance. The dancers stand in silence with hands held in prayer as the drums resound within… infusing them with divine inspiration.

Raga: Desh | Tala: 16 Matra

2. Ratri (Night)

Ratri literally translates into the night and in the style of Seraikella Chhau is a composition that echoes the Vedic concept of celebrating forces in nature. This is inspired from the Ratri Sukta a verse in the Rig Veda that personifies night into a Goddess. A goddess that protects the world and its beings from the threatening forces that may lurk in her darkness.  Night is welcomed ritually in traditional Indian homes with the lighting of an oil lamp. In this choreography the woman doing her ritual arti is symbolically represented by Sandhya or dusk, whose exit marks the entry of night. Her magnificent presence stills the evening with tranquility…reveling in her profound darkness, she scatters stars to adorn her midnight skies. The composition also uses the abstract imagery of an elusive moon with whom she gently plays until the first rays of light take him away.

Raga: Yaman & Maru Bihag | Tala: 12 Matra

3. Radha Krishna
   The eternal love of Radha-Krishna, a metaphor of the union between the supreme and human consciousness is a common motif that finds abundant representations in Indian art. In this particular dance composition, Krishna’s mellifluous flute that forms an intrinsic part of their love imagery becomes the center of focus. Their love play is given a unique dimension as Radha takes the flute from Krishna in an attempt to learn and he, as always, is willing to please his beloved.

Raga: Jogiya | Tala: 16 Matra

4. Kach-O-Debjani
   Kacha, son of Brihaspati and Devjani, faughter of Sage Shukracharya is a central figure in a prominent story of Mahabharat. The narrative revolves around Kach’s quest for knowledge and Devjani’s unrequited love for him, leading to a curse that shapes their destinies. Kacha, who is sent to learn the life-restoring Sanjivani Vidya mantra from the demon Guru Shukracharya, falls in love with his guru’s daughter. However, when the demons learn Kacha’s identity, they kill him multiple times, and each time Devayani’s pleas lead Shukracharya to revive him using the mantra. When Kacha finally learns the mantra, he betrays her and leaves her in despair and agony.

5. Chandrabhaga

The beautiful maiden Chandrabhaga is amidst nature-gentle waves and the golden sands – elements that glorify her resplendent beauty. Stunned by her extraordinary beauty and unknown to her, she is being watched by the Sun god. Much to her horror, lust overcomes his sense of discretion as he begins to pursue her. In a feeble attempt she tries to escape him but is forced to seek protection by plunging into the waters of the ocean. A tragic end that casts an eternal shadow on the Sun, as he plunges into the darkness of remorse and guilt.

Raga: Piloo & Kalavati | Tala: 8 Matra

Musicians:
Guru Shashadhar Acharya (Dhol), Siddharth Dalbehera (Flute), Gopal Dayal (Shehnai), Ranjit Kumar Acharya (Nagada), Sapan Kumar Acharya (Dhol)

Dancers:
Sukant Kumar Acharya, Satish Kumar Modhak, Bishwanath Kumbhakar, Rajesh Kumar Gope, Shubham Acharya, Chandranarayana Mohanty, Udit Pratap Singhdeo, Govind Mahato

Box Office now open.