Sareikela Chhau of Jharkhand. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, May 27: The state’s culture and tourism departments will hold the first National Chhau Dance Festival here from tomorrow.

Thirteen troupes from the three states — Odisha, Bengal and Jharkhand — where Chhau evolved in varying forms, will be seen performing at the three-day festival to be hosted by the Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi at Utkal Mandap from May 28 to 30.

While Odisha’s version of Chhau, which hails from Mayurbhanj, is known for its muscle movements and rhythmic twirls in the air, the masks used in Purulia Chhau of Bengal and Sareikela Chhau of Jharkhand add colour and vibrancy to the dance form.

“Chhau is gaining popularity at a very rapid rate all over the world. In 2010, Unesco gave it an exclusive intangible heritage status. But, despite being an old dance form that developed in our state, we do not get to watch chhau that frequently,” said Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi secretary Chitta Ranjan Mallia.

He also said that the 13 troupes for the festival have been chosen by a special jury. “These troupes are acclaimed all over the country. Hopefully, our initiative will make Chhau popular to the urban masses, especially in the capital city,” he said.

The performing troupes will mostly focus on mythological episodes and spiritual themes, said the organisers.

“Chhau is all about visual poetry, vigour, myths and marvels woven into dance. It should create an impact on tourists,” said Ashok Tripathy, secretary of the state tourism and culture department.

Though Chhau festivals or folk dance festivals showcasing glimpses of the dance form have been held in the city in the last few years, this is the first national-level exclusive event dedicated to this dance form.