Navratri 2025: These Chhau and Baul performances to add a traditional flair to Durga Puja in Mumbai

This Durga Puja, Mumbai will witness a touring performance of Chhau and Baul to add a traditional tint to the city’s celebrations

Navratri 2025: These Chhau and Baul performances to add a traditional flair to Durga Puja in Mumbai

A Chhau performer enacts a character during the special performance at Vashi in June. Pics Courtesy/VIBGYOR Collective

Mahishasur is back in demand. This is the season for the demon to dress up in pomp and be put on display, at least for the key days, before the Goddess deigns to end him. Even as Durga Puja pandals get ready for the welcome, something new stirs in the city. Hosted by VIBGYOR photography collective, the troupe of 15 dancers from the Hara Gauri Chhau Nritya Dal will bring to Mumbai the art form of Chhau from the plains of Purulia.

A dancer performs during the show in June

“Many in Mumbai, Bengalis and otherwise, have heard of Chhau, as an art form. However, not many realise that it is more than a simple dance form. It is a theatrical performance in itself,” explains Indranil Mukherjee, photographer and founder of the collective. After documenting their life and performance in Purulia starting 2020, Mukherjee invited the troupe to the city for a one-off performance in June. Their return for the festive season is a throwback to the old Pujo traditions.

A UNESCO-certified heritage art form, Chhau evolved from the martial art forms of Eastern India, and developed into three major styles — Purulia Chhau, Seraikella Chhau and Mayurbhanj Chhau. “A defining factor of these performances is that there are no dialogues or vocal songs. I believe it is one reason why they are able to cut across cultural and linguistic lines,” the photographer adds.

A performance from Purulia

Each performance is called a Porbo, an episode, and is performed in Palas (chapters). These theatrical retellings of myths and legends are often performed during festive occasions. They were a common presence across Pujo pandals across Kolkata in the past. With changing times though, the performances took a backseat to maximalist decorations.

For the performers in the villages of Purulia though, this slow decay threatens their entire lifestyle. It is not just income but an art ecosystem. “From the making of the masks and these heavy costumes to performers who are trained by knowledge passed down from generations, even to the transport of the material and their organisation, there are villages centred on this ecosystem,” the photographer explains.

The performances typically depict folk tales and mythologies

This is why the performances for five days across six pandals in the city feels like a breath of fresh air for these performers. Arriving in the city on September 24, the troupe will travel to performances at pandals across Ulwe, New Panvel, Mira Road, Dombivli, and Borivli over the key days of Pujo. Like any theatrical company, the troupe has also improved their set, by adding the folk tradition of Baul to the mix. “They are accompanied by Tapan Baul, a nomadic singer who often wanders across the region,” says Mukherjee. This folk music will fill the space between the Palas.

“The idea is to emphasise the beauty of the art form of Chhau, and the need to preserve it for a future generation. It is a chance for the younger generation in the city to discover its magic,” Mukherjee concludes.

From: September 27 till October 1 (Panchami to Dashami)
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