Purulia Chhau Dance Mask Tribal Heritage West Bengal

Purulia district in West Bengal's westernmost plateau is the principal home of Purulia Chhau — a masked dance form recognised as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2010 alongside the Saraikela and Mayurbhanj Chhau traditions. Purulia Chhau is the most theatrical of the three traditions, with dancers wearing large papier-mâché masks of deities, demons, and animals that are made in the Charida village of Bagmundi block — an entire village of mask-making artisans who supply all Chhau dance groups across the region. The Chhau performance cycle follows the Hindu calendar from Chaitra Parva (spring festival) to Bhuja festivals, with male dancers performing acrobatic martial episodes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata in the open air.