By: Prem Sahoo
Chhau Dance, also spelled as Chau or Chhau, is a semi classical Indian dance with martial, tribal and folk with origins in the eastern Indian states of Odisha.
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The Dance ranges from celebrating martial arts, acrobatics and athletics performed in festive themes of a folk dance, to a structured dance with religious themes found in Shaivism, Shaktism and Vaishnavism.
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The costumes vary between the styles, with Purulia and Serakeilla using masks to identify the character.
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The stories enacted by Chhau dancers include those from the Hindu epics the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, the Puranas and other Indian literature.
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