Vilaspur: Raut Nacha, the traditional folk dance of Chhattisgarh which has been an integral part of poll campaigning, is missing from the election scene this time with political parties preferring dancers who can perform to Bollywood numbers.

With their eye-catching colourful attires, gesticulations and bell-sounds, Raut Nacha artistes used to woo voters for the parties which roped them for canvassing. Many even dressed according to party symbols and colours.

"The performers would go to each house in the village after Siwali and shower blessings on the family members. The politicians saw it as an opportunity to reach out to voters," B R Yadav, who has been elected four times to the Assembly, said.

But tastes appear to have changed now as politicians choose to offer bakra bhaat (mutton rice) and liquor to villagers, says Shiv Kumar Gupta in Shivtarai village in the Achanakmar wild life sanctuary.

"Girls have been brought from outside to perform on film music in Chhaparwa bazaar," he said.

"Four girls were brought here to dance on last Tuesday," says Manoj Kumar Yadav from Achanakmar village in Lormi assembly seat.

The performers or Rauts, are also no longer interested in performing for political parties as it costs around Rs 10,000 to buy instruments for one group, he says.

"From where will we bring the money as we are not paid well during election performances," he says.

The all-male dance, a tradition among Raut or Yadav community of Chhattisgarh, is an enactment of the legendary Kansa-Krishna battle.
Source : PTI