The Seraikela Chhau has lost its charm ever since the other forms of the dance were also given equal importance

Seraikela, April 12: Chief minister Arjun Munda might have resolved to make Seraikela the cultural capital of the state, but the artistes and residents of the district are quite upset with the way the Chaitraparv Chhau Mahtotsav, which is currently in progress, has been organised.

According to Rajat Patnaik of the Chhau Artistes? Association, the very fact that the name ?Seraikela? is missing from the banners and hoarding show that the district administration has no respect for the place where the Chaitraparv Chhau Mahotsav actually originated.

?We had pointed this out to the district administration but all our pleas have fallen on deaf ears,? he said.

The residents are also cross with the organisers for including dance forms like Odissi in the festival, which entered its fourth year, apart from the Manbhum, Kharsawan and Purulia Chhau forms.

As a senior citizen Raju Nayak said: ?When the festival began in 2003, it drew a huge response. But it has lost its charm ever since the other Chhau forms were also given equal importance.?

Residents of Seraikela feel, that the Chaitraparv Chhau Mahotsav has been losing its charm over the years and the administration has also decided to hold the festival for the sake of entertainment, forgetting the rituals involved in the festivities which have always been an integral part.

They feel that the administration should take the people especially with senior citizens into confidence.

The Seraikela royal family also echoes the similar sentiments.

Pratap Aditya Singhdeo of the royal family told The Telegraph that the people are still sentimental to the princely palace and the Chhau is a mixture of rituals and dances where offering pujas also played a significant role.

?The district administration should have mixed both rituals and dance involved with the art so that the people would not have been hurt,? said Singhdeo.

He also added that the festivities ideally should be a four-day traditional affair.

The administration seems unruffled with the allegations.

Nagendra Prasad Singh, deputy commissioner of Seraikela, said a section of the residents are jealous on the success of the festival.

?We have invited artistes performing the Manbhum, Purulia Chhau and the Odissi, which is also a form of Chhau, as the festival is of national level,? he said.

A section of artistes seemed ?jealous?, as there were 5,000 people on the opening day of the festival as compared to a handful last year, he pointed out.