Seraikela Chhau Gurus Honored at Sangeet Natak Akademi

Chhau Masters Receive National Recognition in New Delhi Event

In a significant cultural event, Chhau mask guru Sushant Kumar Mahapatra and Chhau guru Malay Kumar Sahu from Seraikela were honored at the Kala Diksha program organized by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, Ministry of Culture, at the Meghdoot Theater complex in New Delhi. This prestigious event celebrated the Gurus of the Academy’s training project, embodying India’s ancient Guru-Shishya tradition.

JAMSHEDPUR – In a prestigious ceremony, more than 50 gurus from across India were honored by Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy and Sangeet Natak Akademi President Dr Sandhya Purecha.

Sushant Kumar Mahapatra and Malay Kumar Sahu received certificates, body clothes, and a Chhau mask in recognition of their contributions to the Seraikela Chhau, a distinguished dance form.

This national level recognition highlights the importance of Seraikela’s rich cultural heritage.

Sushant Kumar Mahapatra, a renowned Chhau mask artist, has been crafting these masks since childhood.

His masks, significant in the globally acclaimed Seraikela style Chhau dance, have been displayed internationally, including in New York, Berlin, and Vienna.

Prashann Kumar Mahapatra, Sushant’s elder father, created the first modern mask for this dance form in 1925.

Malay Kumar Sahu, director of the Shri Kedar Art Center and son of Padmashree Guru Kedar Nath Sahu, has dedicated his life to Chhau dance.

He has been recognized with various national scholarships and fellowships by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.

Sahu’s global footprint includes performances in countries like France, South Korea, and Russia.

This event also marked the launch of 100 training programs for rare performing art forms, a step towards preserving India’s intangible cultural heritage as part of the government’s commitment to cultural preservation.

Union Minister Reddy emphasized the government’s support for the revival of endangered performing art forms.