Charida: Difference between revisions

{{Use Indian English|date=January 2023}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}

| image_skyline = File:Charida 1.jpg

| image_caption = Masks at Charida

| module ={{OSM Location map

| width=300| height=340| zoom=10

| coord={{coord|23.316|86.050}}| float=center|caption=Places in Jhalda subdivision in Purulia district. Key:<br/>M: municipality, C: census town, R: rural/ urban centre, H: historical/ religious centre, X: craft centre, T: tourist centre, △: hills<br/>Owing to space constraints in the small map, the locations in the larger map on click through may vary slightly.

|mark-coord1={{coord|23|23|42|N|85|59|54|E}} | label-pos1=left|label1= [[Chekya]]| numbered1=C| mark-title1= [[Chekya]] (Census Town)|label-color1= #800000 |label-sizeD=11| mark-sizeD=14|shapeD=l-circle|shape-colorD=#A40000|shape-outlineD=white|label-offset-x1=2

|mark-coord2={{coord|23|21|10|N|86|3|23|E}} | label-pos2=right|label2=[[Begunkodor]]| numbered2=C| mark-title2= [[Begunkodor]] (Census Town)

|mark-coord3={{coord|23|25|52|N|86|8|57|E}} | label-pos3=top|label3=[[Jaypur, Purulia|Jaypur]]| numbered3=C| mark-title3= [[Jaypur, Purulia]] (Census Town)

|mark-coord4={{coord|23|22|12|N|85|58|12|E}} | label-pos4=right|label4= [[Jhalda]]| numbered4=M| mark-title4= [[Jhalda]] (M) |shape-color4=#800000

|mark-coord5={{coord|23|25|16|N|86|12|28|E}} | label-pos5=bottom|label5=[[Agharpur]]| numbered5=R| mark-title5= [[Agharpur]] (R) |shape-color5=#C42222

|mark-coord6={{coord|23|30|19|N|86|4|34|E}} | label-pos6=right|label6=[[Ananda Nagar, Purulia|Ananda Nagar]]| numbered6=R| mark-title6= [[Ananda Nagar, Purulia]] (R) |shape-color6=#C42222

|mark-coord7={{coord|23|11|50|N|86|3|0|E}} | label-pos7=left|label7=[[Baghmundi]]| numbered7=R| mark-title7= [[Baghmundi]] (R) |shape-color7=#C42222|ldy7=6

|mark-coord8={{coord|23|18|37|N|85|53|46|E}} | label-pos8=right|label8=[[Jargo, Purulia|Jargo]]| numbered8=R| mark-title8= [[Jargo, Purulia]] (R) |shape-color8=#C42222

|mark-coord9={{coord|23|24|47|N|86|4|46|E}} | label-pos9=right|label9=[[Jiudaru]]| numbered9=R| mark-title9= [[Jiudaru]] (R) |shape-color9=#C42222

|mark-coord10={{coord|23|24|22|N|86|4|12|E}} | label-pos10=bottom|label10=[[Kotshila]]| numbered10=R| mark-title10= [[Kotshila]] (R) |shape-color10=#C42222

|mark-coord11={{coord|23|21|20|N|85|57|11|E}} | label-pos11=bottom|label11=[[Masina, Purulia|Masina]]| numbered11=R| mark-title11= [[Masina, Purulia]] (R) |shape-color11=#C42222

|mark-coord12={{coord|23|11|2|N|86|3|50|E}} | label-pos12=bottom|label12=Patardi| numbered12=R| mark-title12= Patardi (R)|shape-color12=#C42222|ldy12=2

|mark-coord13={{coord|23|22|45|N|85|53|26|E}} | label-pos13=right|label13=[[Tulin, Purulia|Tulin]]| numbered13=R| mark-title13= [[Tulin, Purulia|Tulin]] (R) |shape-color13=#C42222

|mark-coord14={{coord|23|11|44|N|85|53|37|E}} | label-pos14=bottom|label14= [[Suisa]]| numbered14=H| mark-title14= [[Suisa]] (H) |shape-color14=#AA6666

|mark-coord15={{coord|23|12|30|N|86|1|53|E}} | label-pos15=left|label15='''Charida'''| numbered15=X| mark-title15= '''Charida'''(X)| shape-color15=black|label-color15=black|label-size15=14

|mark-coord16={{coord|23|12|34|N|86|7|49|E}} | label-pos16=right|ldy16=-5 |label16= Ajodhya Hill top | numbered16=T|shape-color16=green| mark-title16= Ajodhya Hills (T)

|mark-coord17={{coord|23|11|44|N|86|5|29|E}} | shape17=l-square| label-pos17=bottom |label17= [[Purulia Pumped Storage Power Station|Purulia]]| numbered17=T|shape-color17=green| mark-title17= [[Purulia Pumped Storage Power Station]]|ldy17=0|ldx17=6

|mark-coord18={{coord|23|12|25|N|86|5|5|E}} | label-pos18=top |label18= Bamni Falls | numbered18=T|shape-color18=green| mark-title18= Ajodhya Hills (T)

|mark-coord19={{coord|23|19|3|N|86|3|17|E}} | shape19=l-square|label-pos19=right |label19= [[Murguma Dam]] | numbered19=T|shape-color19=green| mark-title19= [[Murguma Dam]]

|mark-coord20={{coord|23.32|85.885}}| label20= Subarnarekha River| label-color20 = #77A1CB| label-angle20=-55| label-pos20=top| label-size20=9| mark-size20=0| mark-title20 =none

|mark-coord21={{coord|23.2708989|85.9921269}}|shape21=l-triangle|label21= Chamtuburu| label-color21 = #C42222| label-pos21=left| mark-title21 =Chamtuburu Pahar hill|numbered21=△|mark-description21={{cvt|720|m}}|ldy21=2

|mark-coord22={{coord|23.2894|N|86.0506|E}}| label22= Ajodhya^Hills| label-color22 = #C42222 | label-angle22=0| label-pos22=bottom| label-size22=14| mark-size22=0| mark-title22 =none<!--keep as 22 as shape label had a bug now fixed--->

|mark-coord23={{coord|23|08|37.3|N|86|07|42.8|E}}|shape23=l-triangle|label23= [[Gorgaburu]]| label-color23 = #C42222| label-pos23=left| mark-title23 =Gorgaburu hill|numbered23=△|mark-description23={{cvt|677|m}}|ldy23=2

|mark-coord24={{coord|23|14|37.7|N|86|08|18.0|E}}|shape24=l-triangle|label24= Chandni Hill|label-color24 = #C42222| label-pos24=right| mark-title24 =Chandni Pahar hill|numbered24=△|mark-description24={{cvt|620|m}}|ldy24=2

|arc-coordA={{coord|23.45|85.86}}|arc-textA= JHARKHAND| arc-text-colorA=hard grey| arc-angleA=-50| arc-gapA=3.5| arc-radiusA=0.43}}

}}

Charida is about 5&nbsp;km from [[Baghmundi]] village, at the scenic foothills of the [[Ajodhya Hills]].<ref name="censushandbook">{{cite web| url = http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/DCHB/DCHB_A/19/1914_PART_A_DCHB_PURULIYA.pdf| title = District Census Handbook: Puruliya – Series 20, Part Xii A, Census of India 2011| work = Page 102: Brief Description of Places of Religious, Historical or Archaeological Importance and Places of Tourist Interest of the District| publisher = Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal| accessdate = 28 January 2020| archive-date = 22 September 2020| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200922203136/https://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/DCHB/DCHB_A/19/1914_PART_A_DCHB_PURULIYA.pdf| url-status = live}}</ref><ref name="hindu">{{cite web| url= https://www.thehindu.com/society/charida-the-village-of-mask-makers/article24113945.ece| title= Charida, the village of mask makers| first= Tania| last= Banerjee| publisher= The Hindu, 9 June 2018| accessdate= 28 January 2020| archive-date= 29 January 2020| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200129043628/https://www.thehindu.com/society/charida-the-village-of-mask-makers/article24113945.ece| url-status= live}}</ref>

===Area overview===

Purulia district forms the lowest step of the [[Chota Nagpur Plateau]]. The general scenario is undulating land with scattered hills. [[Jhalda subdivision]], shown in the map alongside, is located in the western part of the district, bordering [[Jharkhand]]. The [[Subarnarekha River|Subarnarekha]] flows along a short stretch of its western border. It is an overwhelmingly rural subdivision with 91.02% of the population living in the rural areas and 8.98% living in the urban areas. There are 3 census towns in the subdivision. The map alongside shows some of the tourist attractions in the [[Ajodhya Hills]]. The area is home to Purulia [[Chhau dance]] with spectacular masks made at Charida. The remnants of old temples and deities are found in the subdivision also, as in other parts of the district.<ref>Houlton, Sir John, ''Bihar, the Heart of India'', 1949, p. 170, Orient Longmans Ltd.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://wbpspm.gov.in/publications/District%20Statistical%20Handbook |title = District Statistical Handbook 2014 Purulia |work = Tables 2.1, 2.2 |publisher = Department of Planning and Statistics, Government of West Bengal |accessdate = 12 January 2020 |archive-date = 21 January 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190121045803/http://www.wbpspm.gov.in/publications/District%20Statistical%20Handbook |url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.wbtourismgov.in/destination/district/purulia| title = Purulia| work = Department of Tourism| publisher = Government of West Bengal| accessdate = 1 February 2020| archive-date = 13 June 2021| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210613193601/https://www.wbtourismgov.in/destination/district/purulia| url-status = dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.utsavpedia.com/cultural-connections/indian-performing-arts/chhau-dance-of-purulia/| title = Chhau dance of Purulia| publisher = Itsavpedia| accessdate = 1 February 2020| archive-date = 27 September 2020| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200927233430/https://www.utsavpedia.com/cultural-connections/indian-performing-arts/chhau-dance-of-purulia/| url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/DCHB/DCHB_A/19/1914_PART_A_DCHB_PURULIYA.pdf| title = District Census Handbook: Puruliya – Series 20, Part Xii A, Census of India 2011| work = Page 102: Brief Description of Places of Religious, Historical or Archaeological Importance and Places of Tourist Interest of the District| publisher = Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal| accessdate = 28 January 2020| archive-date = 22 September 2020| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200922203136/https://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/DCHB/DCHB_A/19/1914_PART_A_DCHB_PURULIYA.pdf| url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://rangandatta.wordpress.com/2018/04/25/deuli-harup-and-suisa-crumbling-temples-scattered-statues-and-single-room-museum-purulia-district/#more-32881| title = Deuli, Harup and Suisa, Crumbling Temples, Scattered Statues and Single Room Museum| publisher = Rangan Dutta/ Wordpress| accessdate = 21 January 2020| archive-date = 10 February 2020| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200210124446/https://rangandatta.wordpress.com/2018/04/25/deuli-harup-and-suisa-crumbling-temples-scattered-statues-and-single-room-museum-purulia-district/#more-32881| url-status = live}}</ref>

According to the [[2011 Census of India]], Chorda had a total population of 2,568, of which 1,353 (53%) were males and 1,215 (47%) were females. There were 385 persons in the age range of 0–6 years. The total number of literate persons in Chorda was 1,416 (64.86% of the population over 6 years).<ref>{{cite web | url = http://censusindia.gov.in/pca/cdb_pca_census/Houselisting-housing-WB.html | title = C.D. Block Wise Primary Census Abstract Data(PCA) | work = West Bengal – District-wise CD Blocks | publisher = Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India | accessdate = 28 January 2020 | archive-date = 26 March 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150326034556/http://censusindia.gov.in/pca/cdb_pca_census/Houselisting-housing-WB.html | url-status = live }}</ref>

Charida is famous for the [[Chhau mask]]s used in the Purulia [[Chhau dance]].<ref name="censushandbook"/> Around 150 families are involved in mask-making. It involves five elaborate processes and depending on the intricacies involved it takes two to seven days to complete a mask. "The Chhau craft itself dates back 150 years, to the reign of King Madan Mohan Singh Deo of Baghmundi". A chau mask festival is organised at Charida in January–February. Some of the craftsmen have travelled to far off places such as Japan and France "to showcase their work and popularise Chhau."<ref name="hindu"/>

"The Kirat-Kiratin avtar of Shiva and Durga is the inspiration" behind the Chhau mask. Apart from their traditional use in the Purulia chhau dance, the masks have become a drawing room show piece. Traditionally, only people of lower castes were involved in mask making but the growing demand of the item is drawing in people from all castes into this profession.<ref name="hindu"/>

[[Gambhir Singh Mura]], an outstanding Chhau dancer and a Padma Shri awardee, belonged to the nearby village of Pitikiri Bamni. Now, his statue adorns Charida.<ref name="hindu"/>