‘Chhau dance should be embraced by all, irrespective of their gender’, says Mousumi Choudhury

Mousumi Choudhury, the first woman Chhau dancer from Purulia – a region where this vibrant traditional art form has long been dominated by men, has always been determined to change the narrative. “Chhau is an art form that should be embraced by all, irrespective of gender,” she tells us. Ahead of Durga Puja, the 27-year-old mother of one speaks to us about her journey.

‘Baba was my first guru’
Moushumi grew up watching her father, a Chhau dancer from Maltih Purulia, struggling to preserve this cultural heritage. “Baba used to take me and my sister Shyamali to teach us the dance form, and later, I decided to take it up. He was my first guru, and he’s the reason I am what I am today,” she said. While Chhau has long been dominated by men, with male dancers traditionally portraying female characters, Moushumi was determined to change that narrative. “Somehow, I wanted this to change.” And today, she leads a large troupe of women dancers, inspiring many to carry forward the legacy of Chhau.