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Chhau Dance

• With origins shrouded in mystery, the Chhau dancer communicates inner emotions and themes through cadences of body flexions, movements and kinetic suggestions. 
• The word Chhau is interpreted differently by scholars. ‘Shadow’, 
• ‘Disguise’ and ‘Image’ are the most common interpretations due to the extensive use of masks in this dance form. 
• The martial movements of Chhau have led to another interpretation of the word as meaning ‘to attack stealthily’ or ‘to hunt’.
• Three styles of Chhau exist born from the three different regions of Seraikella (Bihar), Purulia (West Bengal), and Mayurbhanj (Orissa). 
• Martial movements, strong rhythmic statements and dynamic use of space are characteristic of Chhau. 
• Seraikella Chhau flourished under royal patronage. Its vigorous martial character made it suitable only for male dancers.
• The princes were not only patrons but also dancers, teachers and mask-making experts.
• The Seraikella masks are similar to those used in the Noh dance of Japan and the Wayang Wong of Java.
• Purulia Chhau uses masks which is a highly developed craft in the region. The barren land with its tribal inhabitants and multi-layered influences of Vedic literature, Hinduism and martial folk-lore have all combined to shape the Purulia Chhau dances which have only one message - the triumph of good over evil. 
• Mayurbhanj Chhau has highly developed movements, no masks and a more chiselled vocabulary than the other two Chhau styles. Like Seraikella Chhau, it had also thrived under royal patronage and is considered a link between the earthy Indian dance movements and the flying, springing elevations of Western dance. 
• Unlike other Indian Classical dance forms, vocal music in Chhau hardly exists! Instrumental music and a variety of drums like the Dhol, Dhumba, Nagara, Dhansa and Chadchadi provide the accompaniment. Combining folk, tribal and martial traditions and yet covering the three aspects of Nritta, Nritya and Natya as well as the Tandava and Lasya aspects of classical dance, the Chhau dances are complex combinations of Folk and Classical motifs.

The Chhau dance is indigenous to the eastern part of India. It originated as a martial art and contains vigourous movements and leaps. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, many of the princely rulers of the Orissa region took a keen interest in the development of this art. They maintained troupes that performed on special occasions and festivals.

• Some Chhau dances use large stylized masks. The depiction of birds and animals is a distinctive feature. There are also heroic dances with sword, bow or shield, with which dancers demonstrate their dexterity. In keeping with the martial origins of Chhau, some of the themes include the depiction of mythological heroes, such as Parashurama, Mahadev, Indrajit and others, from the Mahabharata and Ramayana epics. Over the course of time, female characters and more diverse themes were added.
  There are three recognized schools or styles of Chhau. These are the Seraikella, Purulia and Mayurbhanj varieties. Mayurbhanj Chhau dancers do not wear masks. In recent times, Mayurbhanj Chhau has become popular as a medium of choreography, with its wide range of postures and movements that adapt well to modern as well as traditional treatment.

Keystone species are important in determining the ability of a large number of other species to persist in the community. 

Allopatric species: species occupying mutually exclusive geographical areas. 

Sympatric species: different species that live in the same area but are prevented from successfully reproducing by a reproductive isolating mechanism. 

Threatened species: May become endangered species in the near future, if proper protection measures were not taken up.

Chakiarkoothu

Chakiarkoothu
 

• This dance form is believed to have been introduced to Kerala by the early Aryan immigrants & is performed only by the members of the Chakiar caste. 

• A highly orthodox type of entertainment, it can be staged inside temples only & witnessed by the Hindus of the higher castes. 

• The theatre is known as Koothambalam. 
• The story is recited in a quasi-dramatic style with emphasis on eloquent declarations with appropriately suggestive facial expressions & hand gestures. 
• The only accompaniments are the cymbals & the drum known as the mizhavu, made of copper with a narrow mouth on which is stretched a piece of parchment. 

source: http://www.indian-heritage.org/dance/dncefrms.htm

Indira Gandhi Canal

Indira Gandhi Canal

The Indira Gandhi Canal is the longest canal in India and the largest irrigation project in the world.

Indira Gandhi Canal is 649 km long and consists of Rajasthan feeder canal and Rajasthan main canal and runs through 167 km in Punjab and Haryana and remaining 492 km in Rajasthan.

 The canal is one of the project of Green revolution in India and also runs through The Great Thar Desert.