Annual Chhau festivals bring communities together to celebrate heritage through vibrant performances, traditional music, and inter-village gatherings. These festivals not only showcase the stylistic richness of Seraikela, Mayurbhanj, Manbhum, and Kharsawan forms, but also sustain living traditions by training young dancers, revitalising craft practices, and strengthening the cultural identity of the region.
The Chhau Festival was held at Alliance University in Bengaluru on November 8 and 9, 2025, as a celebration of India’s UNESCO-recognized Intangible Cultural Heritage. Organized under the Heritage4Prosperity program, the festival presented the three regional styles of Chhau, namely Seraikela, Kharsawan, and Manbhum, and highlighted their distinctive aesthetics, narratives, and martial foundations. Master practitioners […]
Kerala came alive with rhythm, color and storytelling as the three day cultural festival “Chhau: Rhythms of Mask and Myth” travelled across Kannur, Kasaragod and Kozhikode from October 10 to 12, 2025. Held as part of Pavizhotsav, the 35th Anniversary Celebrations of the Folkland International Centre for Folklore and Culture, and supported by Banglanatak dot […]
The Chhau Festival at Nimdih Gandhi Ashram, supported by Axis Bank Foundation (held on March 28-30), celebrated the rich heritage of Seraikela, Kharsawan (influenced by other Chhau dances and local Tribal dance) and Manbhum Chhau (Purulia Chhau style). Daytime workshops by Chhau gurus, mask-making, and instrument-making sessions encouraged hands-on learning. Panel discussions fostered exchanges between […]
A 12 member Chhau dance team from Purulia, was invited to perform at ‘A Tapestry of Sacred Music’, organized by Esplanade – Theatres by the Bay, a cultural space located in Singapore’s Marina Bay area. The selected Chau team is part of Rural Craft and Cultural Hubs initiative, a collaborative project between Department of MSME&T, […]
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5 Chau artists led by Jagannath Chowdhury and Biren Kalindi participated in the 24th edition of Urkult Festival in Sweden in 2019.
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In 2019, 5 Chau artists led by Jagannath Chowdhury participated in the India Summer Days Festival in Karlsruhe, Germany from July 13-14.
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Eminent Chau artist Jagannath Chowdhury and his daughter Mousumi Chowdhury showcased their art-from at Transform Festival in Trondheim, Norway from 1-7 October 2018. Mousumi did a workshop with the kids at the Festival.
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5 Chau artists of Purulia participated in the India Summer Days Festival in Karlsruhe, Germany from July 14-15, 2018.
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2 young Chau dancers Bappaditya Mahato and Bijay Kishore Mahali attended the Seattle International Dance Festival from June 21 – 25 2017.
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The International Folklore Festival BALTICA is a unique co-project of the three Baltic States of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Baltica-2017 was held at Vilnius in Lithuania from July 4 – 9, 2017.
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An 8-member delegation represented India at the 10th International Folklore Festival of Noyon in France, held from July 4 – 8, 2017. It included a five-member Chhau team led by Jagannath Chowdhury of Purulia.
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