India is a land of cultural plurality where every region celebrates its uniqueness through art, dance, and tradition. Among the many lesser-known but deeply rooted dance forms is Chhau Nritya (famous as Chhau Nritya), a performative art from Eastern India that intertwines ritual, mythology, and theatrical grandeur. Often performed in rural belts of Odisha and West Bengal, especially during sacred festivals, Chhau Nritya is not just a dance—it is a visual dialogue with the divine.

“In Jhau Nritya, the forest breathes through movement, and myths walk among men,”

— Dr. Anamika Roy, dance historian and cultural anthropologist.

Ancient Roots of Jhau Nritya

The origins of Jhau Nritya can be traced back to pre-Vaishnavite and tribal traditions, long before classical dance forms like Odissi and Bharatanatyam were codified. “Jhau” refers to a variety of the Casuarina tree, but in the context of the dance, it metaphorically connects to nature, rhythm, and ritual.

While no exact written record pinpoints the year of its inception, oral traditions and village elders associate it with Jagannath worship and seasonal rituals dating as far back as the 9th to 10th centuries CE, during the rule of the Somavamshi and Eastern Ganga dynasties in Odisha. It was believed to have been performed as a devotional offering to Lord Jagannath and Goddess Durga, especially during Chhau festivals and Ratha Yatra celebrations.

Who Started It?

Jhau Nritya, unlike many classical styles, was not initiated by a single guru or court patron. It evolved from community rituals, especially by non-Brahmin sects and tribal groups like the Sabaras and Kandhas of Odisha, later adapted and enriched by rural Vaishnavite and Shaivite devotees.

These communities practiced the dance as part of fertility rites, seasonal transitions, and devotional narratives. Eventually, it became a folk-theatrical form, integrating music, myth, mime, and masked performance.

“It is in such tribal performances that India’s soul whispers. Jhau Nritya is not dance—it is a sacred memory of who we were,”

— Mahasweta Devi, writer and social activist.

Cultural and Social Significance

Jhau Nritya is more than performance—it’s a collective cultural memory. It is traditionally performed in open-air village squares or temple courtyards, especially during:

• Dussehra and Durga Puja
• Chaitra Parva (spring festival)
• Ratha Yatra
• Post-harvest rituals

Each performance is a ritualized offering, invoking gods and spirits, purifying the village, and bridging human lives with divine will. The themes usually revolve around epics like the Ramayana, Mahabharata, or regional folklore, showcasing battles of good versus evil.

It also serves as a social equalizer, where people from various castes and genders participate or spectate together, breaking usual hierarchies. It fosters community bonding and transmits ethical and spiritual values across generations.

Significance of the Makeup and Costume

One of the most striking features of Jhau Nritya is its elaborate makeup and costume design, which closely parallels Chhau and Yakshagana traditions.

(a) Performers wear vibrant face paint that highlights expressions, often using natural dyes and ash.

(b) The headgear (mukuta) is ornate, symbolizing divinity or demon-hood depending on the character.

(c) Costumes are bright, multi-layered, and loud, designed to exaggerate body movements and draw audience attention even from afar.

(d) Body art—including symbolic tattoos and motifs—is also applied during ceremonial performances.

(e) This visual transformation is crucial; it allows the performer to transcend their personal identity and become a vessel for divine storytelling.

When Is It Performed?

Jhau Nritya is seasonal, closely tied to the agricultural and religious calendar:

• Spring and autumn festivals are prime occasions.
• During Ratha Yatra, the performers often dance in front of Lord Jagannath’s chariot.
• It’s also a popular part of Shakti worship rituals, especially in districts like Mayurbhanj (Odisha) and Purulia (West Bengal).

In tribal belts, it may also mark rites of passage like marriages, community healing, or ancestral invocation ceremonies.

“Jhau Nritya shows how the rustic can be royal, the unsung can be sacred,”

— Ratan Thiyam, theatre director and cultural scholar.

Famous Performers and Custodians of the Art

While the tradition is primarily rural and lacks the stardom associated with classical dance, a few names have gained recognition for preserving and modernizing Jhau Nritya:

• Guru Baishnab Charan Sethi of Odisha – An early documenter and community teacher of tribal dance forms including chhau.
• Mahadeb Mahato of Purulia – Known for adapting Chhau elements into mainstream Chhau performances.
• Rani Mahasweta Devi, though not a performer, documented tribal dances including chhau as part of her anthropological and literary research.
• Rabi Narayan Mohanty, a folk dramatist, integrated chhau motifs in Odia stage plays.

In an era where mainstream art forms often overshadow the folk and tribal, Chhau Nritya stands as a reminder of India’s grassroots creative spirit. It is a dance born from soil and soul, shaped by history and devotion, and carried forward by communities that may not have stages, but have stories etched in every footstep.

Preserving and celebrating such art forms is not just about protecting tradition—it’s about protecting identity, ritual heritage, and the undiluted expression of human spirituality. As India moves forward, the dance of Jhau must not be forgotten; instead, it should be reimagined and retold for generations to come.