Britannica
Sources used in this answer
What is Chhau dance in Odisha?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Odisha
Jagannatha temple, Puri, Odisha, India.
In Odisha, Chhau is a unique and vigorous form of dance that serves as an emblematic feature of Odia culture, particularly in the Mayurbhanj district and surrounding northern areas.12
Unlike the form of Chhau practiced in Jharkhand, which utilizes masks, the Chhau dancers in Odisha do not wear them. Instead, they achieve the illusion of a mask through the use of deliberately stiff and immobile facial expressions. The style of this dance is characterized by its vigorous and acrobatic nature.1
While Chhau is a significant folk tradition in the region, it is distinct from Odissi, which is the classical dance form of Odisha that has been performed for more than 700 years.2