They came, they masqueraded and they won hearts.

Artistes from 30 chhau akharas danced their way to glory at a competition organised by Seraikela-Kharsawan district administration amid the ongoing Chhau Mahotsav at Rajkiya Chhau Nritya Kala Kendra in Seraikela on Wednesday.

The dancers performed styles like Seraikela Chhau, Kharsawan Chhau and Mayurbhanj Chhau. All the groups had a theme like Mahisasur vadh, Krishna leela, Krishna Radha etc.

Judges Padma Shri Gopal Prasad Dubey, Nathu Mahto, Santosh Mahto, Shyam Prasad Nanda, Hare Krishna Mahapatra and Sushant Mahapatra were as much amused, as the audience.

But for the artistes, it is not just a mere competition. It is a matter of honour.

" Kheti baadi ho ya na ho, chhau naach karna zaruri hain (Farming is not as necessary as chhau)," said Suru Singh Sardar, a dancer from Shiv Shambhu Chhau Kala Mandir in Seraikela.

Basudev Mahto, a guru at Nagraj Chhau Nritya Kala Kendra in Chadri, agreed.

"Farmers earn a meagre amount, but for the past 60 years we have been holding on to the tradition. Chhau has been passed as a tradition to us from our parents and grandparents who learnt the dance form at the royal palace. Now, we are trying to pass it on to our children," said the artiste while helping other to get ready.

Interestingly, most of the artistes have not learnt chhau in any school, but have rather grown up with it. For instance, the troop from Baganshahi practises under a mango tree in their village while dancers from Chadri use a temple premises for rehearsals.

" Apna interest hai isiliye humlog isko jeevit rakhe hain. (We have preserved this art form because we have keen interest in it)," said Majhila Sardar and explained that the competition was important not for the prize but for recognition and honour.

These artistes usually charge something between Rs 5,000 and Rs 12,000 to perform at functions. Otherwise, they earn their livelihood through farming or as farm labourers.

They believe that if such conditions continue for long, children will no longer be interested to carry on the tradition and this art form would become extinct.

Asked if a school or a diploma course will help chhau, Majhila said, "Diploma? What's that? Chhau is learnt from heart and soul and not in classrooms."

However, the artistes do urge the government to link chhau and such other dying art forms to a stable livelihood to make it sustainable.