Jamshedpur: Chhau artiste Sumit Mahapatra to perform at Delhi International Trade Fair

Mail News Service

Seraikela, Nov 14: Young Chhau artist Sumit Mahapatra of Seraikela along with his team will perform at the International Trade Fair at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. International Trade Fair that was inaugurated on Sunday will continue till November 27.

 Sumit and his team who are from the Shri Jagannath Art School of Seraikela will present Chhau dance in Seraikela style (shaili) at the Fair on November 24. Artistes and artisans from different regions of the state will perform and present their art and craft at the Jharkhand pavilion.

States across India have put up their pavilions where heritage, art and culture besides industrial specialties will be on view for international visitors. Moreover, the pavilions are designed as international platforms for exchange of art and culture whereby artistes will gain widespread exposure.

 In this regard, Sumit Mahapatra said that from November 24, a cultural program would be organized in the Jharkhand stall. The first program will be presented by his dance team. “The three dances we will perform will include Aarti dance followed by compositions on Radha-Krishna depicting love rasa and Hara-Parvati based on using make up to express rasa or the expressions of sublimity. We are in oour fine tuning process of rehearsals,” informed Sumit Mahapatra. Sumit’s team includes Nibaran Mahato, Kalicharan Shadangi, Devraj Singh, Ravi Modak and other dance and music artistes.Ity may be mentioned that Sumit, besides being a fine exponent of the Saraikela form of Chhau dance is also a deft mask maker. Masks are used for character portrayals in the Saraikela Chhau Shaili. He is following in the footsteps of his father, Sushant Mahapatra who too is a Chhau dancer and of international repute and a mask maker to boot.