The traditional arms and instruments used in Jharkhand’s Chhau dance will be displayed at the museum

Ranchi, Oct. 17: A slice of Jharkhand will travel west to Haryana as part of an ethnic showcase.

The state culture department will send instruments used in folk dances like Chhau and Paika to Jamunanagar where the Haryana government is setting up a museum.

Haryana chief minister Om Prakash Chautala recently wrote to Arjun Munda requesting him “to arrange traditional weapons and other instruments used in self-defence by the warriors of your state”.

Munda, after receiving the letter forwarded it to the culture department. The culture department officials approached the Chhau centre, Seraikela, to collect the instruments and send them over to the department.

The instruments have now arrived here and are lying at the culture department. Satisfied with the quality of the consignment, the department officials will soon despatch them to Jamunanagar by train.

The consignment comprises trishuls, gadas, masks, costumes and other articles used in the dances of Jharkhand. “We will prefer that an employee of the department takes the consignment to personally Jamunanagar rather than send them by post or courier,” sources added.

“Jharkhand has a rich tradition of folk dances and songs. For example, Chhau has been recognised world over for its class and valour. Arms and instruments are used extensively in these dance forms,” sources said.

The Haryana government is building this museum in memory of the 10th guru of the Sikhs, Guru Govind Singh.

The museum will preserve arms, weapons and instruments of self-defence from other states.

The department officials have claimed that all the roadblocks in the construction of the museum in Ranchi have been removed and the process will begin soon. Earlier, there was resistance from local people.

“The district administration has assured that there will no problem in starting construction work on the land earmarked for the purpose in front of the Tribal Research Institute, Morahbadi. We have held talks with the local residents and they have assured us that they would lend their support to the project,” sources added.