Jamshedpur : Keeping in mind the rich floral and faunal wealth in the region, the state government has stepped up efforts to promote eco-tourism in the state on a grand scale.
The aim is not only to lure tourists, but also jack up efforts for conserving wildlife and nature on the lines of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat.
The Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Raghubar Das has said that the Government will put every effort to promote cultural and heritage tourism in Jharkhand. He said that based on the Public-Private model initiatives will be taken. Das was here to participate in the concluding ceremony of the Chaitra Parva at the Seraikela palace and at the Bhagwan Birsa Munda stadium.
Sharing his views he said that the Chaitra Parva of the Seraikela royal palace and the state government’s Chhau Mahotsav will be celebrated together. Das made it clear that Seraikela’s Chhau Mahotsav and Chaitra Parva should be a single event. This was a long lasted wish of the Seraikela royal family from where the rituals and Chaitra Parva in Seraikela started.
“It would be a boon for state’s economy and also conserve community culture, natural environment and cultural heritage,” he said.
The eco-tourism project, which will be developed by the state’s Forest and Wildlife Department, Tourism and other government agencies, is envisioned to be equipped with world-class facilities.Eco-tourism is a potential resource for creating awareness for protection of forests and wildlife and generating revenue. It would also help generate employment for youth in various districts, said another senior district official.
“We believe that the locals, who are well-versed with local wildlife, should also be involved in the projects. These projects would not only attract tourists, but also help us bring the local hunters and their children, who are presently earning their livelihood through illegal activities, into the society’s mainstream,” said an official.
The Seriakela form of Chhau is one of the most popular forms of the Chhau dance and the artists of this form are revered in Jharkhand. The last edition of the Chhau festival was a complete success with audience enjoying the live performances of the traditional yet popular folk dance forms by the noted artists.
Apart from Sambhalpuri and Nagpuri, Jhumar, Rijha, Dassaye, Maghe, and Thirkal forms of Chhau dance will be showcased during the two day festival.
The Chhau groups participating in the event say that they otherwise earn their livelihood through farming or working as labourers. The groups charge between Rs 4000 and Rs 10,000 to perform in functions but they want the government to link Chhau to empowerment and increase employability of the artists.
Chhau’ is said to mean a mask, and hence aptly describes the main accoutrement of the dance. The noted Oriya literatteur Sitakanta Mahapatra, however, believes that the word is derived from Chhauni which means barracks.
The militiamen (Paikas) performed these dance-dramas in Chhauni (cantonments ) to commemorate their battle victories or simply to relax, so it came to be called ‘Chhauni dance’, later shortened to Chhau.
