Chadar Badar - The Lost heritage of India
Chadar Badar, a rare form of indigenous Santhal puppetry, is a hallmark of Santhali culture. The dying art form was once prevalent in the Santhal communities living in Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, and Assam. Today, only a handful of Chadar Badar puppeteers are seen scattered in the Birbhum, Bardhaman, North Dinajpur, and Bankura districts of West Bengal and Dumka region of Jharkhand.
The main reason for the art form becoming obscure is that only very few members of the community have learned the basic art of making the puppets or have acquired the skills to bring them to life on makeshift stages. However, with the help of social activists and government support, some members of the community are making a valiant attempt to retain this art form and pass it on to future generations.
Making the puppets is the main aspect of Chadar Badar and requires technical skills. Created with intricate workmanship, the puppets are made of bamboo or wood and are about 8 to 9 inches in height. The puppets have movable limbs with intricate lever-controlled mechanisms that are manipulated by the puppeteer.
For the performance, the puppets are placed on a small platform with a canopy or hung inside a wooden box, open on three or all four sides. The string, lever, and sticks used to move the puppets are covered with a chadar or a wrap. When the puppeteer tugs the string, it turns the lever, which causes the sticks to move up and down, thereby making the puppets’ limbs move.
A combination of traditional musical instruments, including the Baje Banam, Lagara, Tirenya, or flute, and the Tunda or Madal accompanies the performance. The synchronization between the music and puppets is so perfect that the puppets appear automated. Accompanied by the music and singing, the puppets create an illusion of a rhythmic Santhali dance. The performance is a display of indigenous animation and simplicity and an attempt by the members of the community to retain their own culture.
The timing of a Chadar Badar show is variable and depends on the interest of the audience. If the spectators wish to see more, the puppeteer can easily increase the length of the performance. The puppeteers are emotionally attached to their puppets and treat them like their own children. All the puppets are given names – while Ram and Lakshman are common names for the male puppets, Khukumoni, Sonamoni, and Lakshmimoni are common names for the female puppets.
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