Chhau Performance of Manbhum: A Folk Study of Hindu Traditions and Myths

Abstract

This paper examines the role of Hindu traditions and myths in the Chhau Dance of Manbhum, exploring how the dance is structured around traditional and mythological references. The Chhau Dance form originates in the Chhotanagpur Plateau of Eastern India. Having crossed local boundaries, this dance form has acquired worldwide recognition. The study employs an ethnographic approach, drawing on theories of Folklore, Myth-Ritual, Structuralism in Myth, and Rasa. The findings demonstrate the significant use of rituals and myths as narrative source material, performance framework, and a means of enacting Hindu religious practice.