UMS Concert Program, February 22, 1975: Chhau The Masked Dance Of West Bengal -- Asutosh Bhattacharyya

Concert: Third
Complete Series: 3931
Rackham Auditorium, Ann Arbor, Michigan

The University Musical Society
of
The University of Michigan
Presents
Chhau
The Masked Dance of West Bengal
ASUTOSH BHATTACHARYYA, Director
Dancers
KSHIROD SING MURA ANIL KUMAR SUTRADHAR
JAGRU MAHATO DKEPXARAYAN MAHATO
GAMBHIR SING MURA RAMESH KUMAR
JANAK SING MURA KALEBAR KUMAR
Musicians GANESH KALINDI, Shcnai
DHRUBA LAYA, Dhol BUDDHESWAR MACHOAR, Dhamsa
Saturday Evening, February 22, 1975, at 8:30 Rackham Auditorium, Ann Arbor, Michigan
PROGRAM THE KILLING OF THE BUFFALODEMON MAHISHA
Ganesha and Kartikeya, the sons of the great god Shiva, were dancing one day in the courtyard of their house when the demon Mahisha appeared before them. Shiva had endowed Mahisha with great powers which enabled him to drive away the gods from the heavens. When he appeared before the two sons of Shiva they fought with him one after the other but both were defeated. Then appeared Durga, the mother of the two gods. She attacked the demon with the determination to kill and after a great battle defeated him.
Ganesh...........Kshirod Sing Mura
Kartik ............ Jagru Maiiato
Asur (demon) ......... Gambiiir Sing Mura
Lion............Janak Sing Mura
Durga..........Anil Kumar Sutradiiar
Lakshmi..........Deepnarayan Mahato
Saraswati...........Ramesh Kumar
THE DEATH OF THE DEMONESS TADAKA
Rama and Lakshmana, the two young sons of the King of Ayoddhya, were pro?ceeding one day to the court of Mithila with the sage Viswamitra. On the way there, they passed the abode of a demoness who used to disturb the sages during their religious practices. Rama, the young hero of the Ramayana, wanted to help the sages. He waited on the road with his brother, and in no time the demoness appeared and attacked them. But they overpowered her and killed her.
Rama...........Deepnarayan Mahato
Lakshmana...........Janak Sing Mura
Tadaka (demoness)..........Jacru Maiiato
Viswamitra.........Anil Kumar Sutradiiar
Third Program Fourth Annual Asian Scries Complete Programs 3931
THE BOW CONTEST
Janaka, the king of Mithila, had a daughter, and he declared that whoever could shoot an arrow from a bow, which he had received from the great god Shiva, would receive the hand of his daughter in marriage. Kings of many countries came to the court of Janaka, but none was able to lift the bow from the ground. Ultimately Rama appeared with his brother Lakshmana, accompanied by Viswamitra. Lakshmana said that he could shoot an arrow from the bow. But Viswamitra, the sage, wanted Rama to win the contest. Rama lifted the bow from the ground and as he was about to shoot an arrow, the bow broke into two pieces. As promised, Sita, the daughter of Janaka, became Rama's wife.
Parasurama was a great devotee of Shiva. When he heard that Rama had broken the divine bow of Shiva he became very angry and attacked him. But Rama pacified him.
King No. 1..........Kshirod Sing Mura
King No. 2...........Jagru Mahato
King No. 3..........Gambhir Sing Mura
Ravana............Kalebar Kumar
Rama...........Deepxarayan Maiiato
Lakshmana...........Janak Sing Mura
Sita...........Anil Kumar Sutradiiar
Parasurama...........Ramlsh Kumar
INTERMISSION
THE LAST DAY OF LORD KRISHNA
After the battle of Kurukshetra, Lord Krishna was very sad and melancholy. One day he was sitting under a tree in a lonely forest. A hunter came in search of prey. From a distance he saw something which resembled the ears of a deer. Actually, it was the soles of Krishna's feet. The hunter shot an arrow and killed Krishna. The hunter realized his mistake and deeply regretted his hasty actions. After he left, Arjuna appeared in search of Krishna, and found him dead. He carried the news to the members of his family. The women came there weeping.
Krishna............Ramesh Kumar
Hunter...........Gambhir Sing Mura
Arjuna............Janak Sing Mura
Weeping Women........Anil Kumar Sutradiiar
Deepnarayan Maiiato, Kshirod Sing Mura
THE TRAGIC END OF ABHIMAXYU
On the thirteenth day of the battle of Kurukshetra (the battle continued for eighteen days) Acharya Drona, the commanderinchief of the Kauravas took a vow that he would kill Abhimanyu, the young son of Arjuna and nephew of Lord Krishna. Seven great warriors of the Kaurava's army attacked Abhimanyu one by one, but all were defeated by him singlehandedly. Then, Acharya Drona laid a trap. Seven war?riors suddenly surrounded Abhimanyu cutting him off from his army. The seven warriors fought against him simultaneously. After holding out for a long time against these heavy odds, Abhimanyu died in the battle.
Abhimanyu...........Ramesh Kumar
Kama.............Jagru Mahato
Duryodhana .......... Deepnarayan Mahato
Drona ............ Kalebar Kumar
Aswatthama...........Janak Sing Mura
Dushasana..........KsniROD Sing Mura
Saknni..........Anil Kumar Sutradiiar
Kripa...........Gambhir Sing Mura
The tour of Chhau, The Masked Dance of Bengal, is sponsored by The Performing Arts Program of the Asia Society under a grant from The High Winds Fund.
UNIVERSITY MUSICAL SOCIETY
Burton Memorial Tower, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104 Phones: 6653717, 7642538