Digitalization and Cultural Identity in Purulia Chhau

Purulia Chhau is an exuberant folk performance that is based on ritual performance, community involvement, and cultural memory. It is also characterised by elaborate masks, martial action and mythological story, and it has long been a cultural outpouring of the rural society. The rapid development of online sources, such as YouTube and Instagram, over the past years has altered the way Chhau is performed, distributed and consumed. The paper examines how digitalisation is changing the image of Chhau such that it is no longer a localised ritual practice but a cultural commodity that can be accessed by people around the globe. According to the article, there is a dualism in digital media in preserving and breaking up cultural identity. On the one hand, it increases the visibility, documentation of the performers, and their economic viability; on the other, it facilitates the modifications in the style, length, and beauty of the performances to suit the online audiences, which can negatively affect the authenticity of the performances. The paper presents the clash between authenticity and adaptation through a synthesis of the field-based observations and digital ethnography. It concludes that even though digitalisation presents new opportunities towards cultural sustainability, precautionary measures should be observed to ensure that the integrity and identity of Purulia Chhau are not lost in an ever-mediated cultural environment.