← Longest Chhau Musical Accompaniment (Mayurbhanj, Odisha)

The Longest Chhau Musical Accompaniment was held in Mayurbhanj, Odisha, on 21 February 2020, where traditional Chhau musicians performed 10 hours of nonstop music and songs to accompany a series of Chhau dance presentations. Organized by local cultural associations in collaboration with folk art preservation groups, the event highlighted the rhythmic intensity of instruments like the dhol, dhumsa, shehnai, and mahuri, blended with folk singing that narrates mythological and heroic tales. This marathon performance not only set a record for the longest Chhau musical accompaniment but also reinforced Mayurbhanj’s reputation as the cradle of Chhau, preserving one of Odisha’s most celebrated tribal dance-music traditions.