From Lavni of Maharashtra to Assam's Bhortal, visitors will be in for a cultural treat at the much-awaited annual folk dance festival Rajkiya Chhau Mahotsav to be held from April 9 to 13 at Bhagwan Birsa Munda Stadium in Seraikela, 35km from Jamshedpur.

While the dance festival will be held from April 11 to 13, a handicraft fair, also a part of the mahotsav, will kick off from April 9. The fair will promote local handicraft and handloom items like dokra, sohrai paintings and tussar silk.

This year, the organisers are roping in eminent singers like Kailash Kher and Anup Jalota, based on the audience demand.

Seraikela-Kharswan district administration has for the first time consulted with the local people before finalising the list of performances at the five-day Rajkiya Chhau Mahotsav.

Tapan Patnaik, the director of the Rajkiya Chhau Nriyta Kala Kendra, who monitors the entire arrangement of the Mahotsav, said that they were trying their best to bring prominent artistes at the three-day dance and music festival in Seraikela.

"Last month, we held a meeting with some of the reputed persons and art connoisseurs of Seraikela. Besides, performers of chhau dance, we also want to bring classical and folk artistes from other states. This is the only time, Seraikela people get to witness traditional dance performances from other states," said Patnaik.

He added, "We are trying to invite singers like Kailash Kher and Anup Jalota according to public demand. We will finalise everything by next week." Besides, performers of various chhau genres, the audience will get to witness other indigenous, classical and fusion dance forms.

From the traditional Seraikela Chhau, Manbhum Chhau, Singua and Kharswan Chhau to Bharatnatyam, Odissi, Kathakali and folk dances like Assam's Bhortal dance, Lavani from Maharashtra and Rajasthan's Ghumar, the festival will definitely be bigger and better this time.

The organisers also plan to introduce theme-based performances this year.

"Viewers can expect something new. We have decided to introduce a theme-based act each day. We thought a festival of this stature must also convey some social message," said Patnaik.

"Chhau is based on mythology but we want to bring in new themes so that the choreography can be innovative. In this way, there will be improvement in showmanship and the way of storytelling through dance," said Patnaik.