Ranchi, March 21: The much-awaited annual folk dance festival, Chhau Mahotsav, will begin from April 3 in Seraikela.

Hosted by the state art and culture department, the nine-day event will see performances by chhau artistes on three schools of the dance, Seraikela, Manbhum (Purulia) and Mayurbhanj.

Sports, tourism, art and culture and youth affairs minister Amar Kumar Bauri announced the dates at a news meet at JTDC complex in Ranchi today.

Art and culture secretary Avinash Kumar said: "The fest will also have artistes performing Odissi and Gotipua, a traditional dance form of Odisha, Bengal ballet, the Bihu dance from Assam, lavni from Maharashtra, garba from Gujarat and ghoomar from Rajasthan."

Like last year, there will be a package tour of four days and three nights at the festival to Seraikela from Ranchi. The prices will range between Rs 14,750 and Rs 19,450, depending on the type of car used for travel. "The tour package will promote tourism," Bauri added.

The fest will also showcase government works implemented in various fields through stalls put up by departments.

Last year, road shows announcing Chhau Mahotsav were organised in Ranchi and New Delhi. "That's also being considered and will be decided shortly," tourism director Suchitra Sinha said.

Seraikela Chhau fest is being organised by the state government since the past many years in a bid to promote and popularise chhau, which was declared as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by Unesco in 2010.