Nayagarh: The daring and perilous Bamboo Queen Game (Baunsharani Khela), once a vibrant folk art and a mark of cultural pride, has faded into history after the death of its renowned director, Purnachandra Das.
The art form, with roots in Nathiapalli village under Kurala panchayat in this district, has given the village a distinct identity for over three centuries. Though initially performed for family sustenance and artistic pursuit, the game grew into a spectacle of entertainment that brought fame and dignity to Nayagarh at the national and international levels. Under the leadership of Jayadurga Bamboo Queen Art Group, directed by Das, the game reached global audiences. The Bamboo Queen Game involved a 33-foot-long bamboo pole fixed vertically to the ground. At the pole’s top, a small platform was attached, on which a woman or a girl performed acrobatic spins like a wheel.
The bamboo never shifted from its base during the performance, despite the high-risk stunts. The spectacle left audiences terrified as well as mesmerised, reluctant to leave until the end. Side attractions included cradle swings and rope-balancing acts. Das, a versatile musician skilled in flute, shehnai, harmonium, and lal baja (traditional drums), devoted his life to perfecting and popularising the performance. His wife Chhaya, daughters Lakshmi, Mami and Rashmi, and niece Sushma all performed in the troupe. Their shows at festivals such as Delhi’s Apna Utsav captivated crowds. Internationally, Chhaya, Mami, and Sushma showcased the game in France, proudly representing Nayagarh.
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Rashmi, the youngest, gained special recognition at Apna Utsav in New Delhi when she was awarded a gold medal by the Central Water Sports Gymnastics Federation. She later trained under the Sports Authority of India (SAI), honing her gymnastics skills at Delhi’s Yamuna Velodrome. Rashmi won another gold medal in highboard diving and now serves as an additional deputy superintendent of police with the Central Reserve Police Force in Assam.
However, the family is unable to carry forward the tradition as Chhaya is now an elderly woman, and the daughters are married and settled. Outsiders have also shown little interest in learning the art. What began in Nathiapalli had spread to festivals across Odisha, the Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi, Kolkata’s folk culture fairs, the Delhi Sangeet Natak Akademi, Apna Utsav, and even France. Yet after Das’ death August 24 this year, the 300-year-old tradition has come to an end. Despite performing in India and abroad for decades, Chhaya Das, 76, widow of late director Purnachandra Das, is living in penury without an artiste pension.