Dancers of Purulia’s Baligara Kishan Chhow-Nritya Party put up Mahishasuramardini in Salt Lake. Picture by Saradindu Chaudhury

They came all the way from Purulia travelling overnight by road to perform at Purbashree for the film festival. After entertaining cine-goers for a day and half, they dropped by at CJ Block for their last performance in Salt Lake before they left again for home.

A group of 26 chhou dancers belonging to Baligara Kishan Chhow-Nritya Party reached CJ Block in the evening on November 12. Since they were the opening act before singer Kunal Ganjawala, the chairs were mostly empty. But once their drums and cymbals started being played, residents gathered.

The acrobatics of the performers, vaulting on stage on their hands and sometimes even their heads, left residents open-mouthed. “These leaps we do are called ulpha. We practise them from childhood,” smiled Adalat Mahato, the lead dancer who plays Mahishasura in Mahishasuramardini, the final act.

Six-year-old Nil and Rishika Patra were a little frightened by the roars of Durga’s lion but that also made them vote for the beast as their favourite in the recital. Upashi Mahato, who played the lion, laughed on being told about the scared kids. “That happens everywhere,” he said.

Achintya Mahato, Adalat’s grandson, is the youngest of the group. In accordance with the progression in their training, Achintya gets to play Kartik. But the 12-year-old is already aiming high. “I want to play Mahishasura some day. I love his mask,” he says, looking at his grandfather take off his elaborate costume. Adalat has been playing Mahishasura for 55 years now.

The group is booked for 260-265 days in a year, mostly in and around Purulia. “This is my fifth visit to Calcutta. I love coming to the city,” Achintya said.