On the way to School
The tradition of masks in Jharkhand -
Saraikela -"In the year 1620, Kumar Bikram Singh I, the third Maharaja
Jagannath Singh, established the Seraikela state, which was merged with Bihar state after independence and ranked as subdivision
merged with the boundaries of Kharsawan state. Later on the basis of
territories act in 1950, 39 villages of Chandil, Nimdih and Tamar area were
included into it." - http://seraikela.nic.in/
After Jharkhand got separated from Bihar,
Sarikela became part of the state. The Chou Dance of Saraikela is characteristic
and typical. The masks have an unmistakable similarity with masks from Bali/ Java. For long this unique form of Chou has had an
active patronage from the Royal Family of Singh Deos.
I decided to go to Rajkiya Chou Nritya Kala Kendra where
they train students not only in dance, but there are separate teachers and
departments that train in mask making as well. Unlike masks taken from moulds,
these Saraikela masks are directly cast from clay in paper mache and cotton
cloth, that is in the end layered with a fine mud paste that gives it a
delicate and refined finish. No varnish is applied, after the colouring, that
are all natural.
Despite and bumpy rides, I was fortunate to meet one of the
descendents of the Singh Deos of Saraikela Royal Family - Lal Bahadur Singh
Deo. The palace lies in a derelict state...the traditon of Chou masks and dance
lives on....
A dusty and bumpy ride in an auto to Saraikela was an experience one of its kind
The Saraikela Royal Palace, that lies in a dilapidated condition
The Saraikela Chou Mask
Lal Bahadur Singh Deo, descendent of the Singh Deos of Saraikela
Did you explore / could you find some academic testimony of the Saraikela Chhou masks being ethnologically and not just visually related to the South East Asian masks?
ReplyDeleteHi!
DeleteI am sure, there must be a distant connection/ influence between the two. It is a matter of greater study, and unfortunately, in most cases, the documentation is quite poor. I am sure, there must be some references that discusses Saraikela masks and the dance form, but I am not entirely aware of it.
I do have a recorded interview with the centre's Director, that hints at this very question at one point 'cause I was myself quite struck by the similarity of two.