People's art of Jharkhand

Seraikella Chhau
Author: MD Muthkumaraswamy, Tapan Kumar Pattanayak, et al (ed)
Publisher: Marg
Price: Rs 1,500

The book mentions how the movements of Chhau are all drawn from animal behaviour, everyday life and depiction of nature, says Utpal K Banerjee

There is a hearsay that Suvarnarekha (meaning ‘golden streak’), the main river of Jharkhand, yields minuscule gold grains if its sands are carefully sieved. Whether true or not, the river — skirting the northern borders of Jamshedpur — offers a splendid sight all through its course, especially when it meets its principal tributary, Kharkai (meaning ‘demonic bodied’) at the steel-city’s picturesque northeastern apex, Do-Mohani. On the banks of the Kharkai river rests Seraikella, an erstwhile native kingdom, where its staple Chhau dance is far more than the life-line of the kingdom’s now impoverished populace.

As the book under review makes out, virtually every household, every street corner, every child and every adult in the region practises Chhau dance. The former royal family of the Singh Deos has played a crucial role in the institutionalisation of Chhau. The palace was both the patron as well as the participant of the social order that weaved the relationship among religious beliefs, communities and the kingdom. This brings us to another endearing hearsay (not mentioned in the book): That proficiency in Chhau dance was an essential prerequisite for a prince in order to qualify for the throne. Again, howsoever apocryphal, it is corroborated by the fact that every annual procession of the all-important Chaitra Parva festival passed through the palace to pay regard to the king and make ritual sacrifices for the welfare of the kingdom.

The Kharkai river — a mere rivulet in dry seasons that turns into a ferocious stream during the monsoons, thus justifying its name — plays an important role in aiding the imagination of the people of Seraikella. Its tributaries flow through many borders that nourish and stand witness to all the four styles of Chhau known by their place names: Mayurbhanj in Odisha, Manbhum in West Bengal and Kharaswan and Seraikella in Jharkhand. As for the rituals associated with Seraikella Chhau, it begins and ends along the banks of the Kharkai river during the Chaitra Parva that celebrates the arrival of the New Year as per the lunar calendar.

Scottish Hill Names: Their Origin and Meaning - theukphile ...

Published in 2007 by the Scottish Mountaineering Trust, Scottish Hill Names: Their Origin and Meaning is the 2nd edition of Peter Drummond’s comprehensive work, which first appeared in 1991 as Scottish Hill and Mountain Names. After a day spent climbing Sgùrr nan Gillean on Skye or Merrick in the Southern Uplands, you may well be wondering about the meaning of the name of the summits you have just conquered, and you will find answers to your questions here (Sgùrr nan Gillean, Gaelic for ‘peak of the young men’; Merrick, probably from Gaelic meurach, ‘pronged, branched, fingered’).

The whole of Scotland is covered, from Foinaven in the North to Crifell in the South. Island peaks are included too, such as Heaval on Barra, The Sneug on Foula (west of Shetland) or Conachair on the even more rugged and remote Hirta (St. Kilda). This serves as a reminder of just how many peaks there are in Scotland, and as an additional motivation – if you needed one – to go and explore them…..

For the full text of Paul Tempan’s review, see the Mountain Views website (mountainviews ie) under More –> Resources.

Darci is our of the day - find out it's meaning, origin, reg pop & middle/sibling names here:

RT : Zara is our of the day - find out it's meaning, origin, reg pop & middle/sibling names here:

Zara is our of the day - find out it's meaning, origin, reg pop & middle/sibling names here:

look out baby names from all across the globe with meaning , origin and numerology.

Josh is our of the day - find out it's meaning, origin, reg pop & middle/sibling names here:

British family names, their origin and meaning, with lists of Scandinavian, Frisian, Anglo-Saxon and Norman names

?K6?^CL. 1«L lullovinß paZe« are usserecl to tbe public in tbe belief tliat tbev will be lunncl u^elul tc> tboze iutere5te6 in tlie 8tu6v ol N2me« or ...

1500 California place names, their origin and meaning

This is the new "pocket" version of the classic California Place Names, first published by California in 1949.

Scottish land-names, their origin and meaning

NQUIEY into the origin and mean- Difficulties ing of Scottish place-names is a task countered. beset with difficulties of a peculiar kind. ...

Dictionary of African names, vol. 1, meanings, pronunciations and origin

This book publishes thousands of African names, their ethnic and country of origin, and English phonetic pronunciation.

Name Book, The, Over 10,000 Names--Their Meanings, Origins, and Spiritual Significance

From Aaron to Zoe, this useful book includes the cultural origin, the literal meaning, and the spiritual significance of more than 10,000 classic, contemporary, ...