Stories
Widowed at 14 and once a maid, Chitra Das is now a prominent face of Durgotsav
- •Chitra Das from Sudpur village in Katwa faced immense hardship after being widowed at the tender age of 14.
- •To survive and raise her son, she worked as a domestic help and a laborer in a puffed rice mill.
- •With her son's encouragement, she formed an all-women dhak-playing troupe in 2014 despite severe financial constraints.
- •Overcoming societal taunts and financial hurdles, she trained under local drummer Nadu Das to master the traditional instrument.
- •Today, Chitra Dhaki and her troupe perform across West Bengal and other states like Assam, Odisha, and Tripura during Durga Puja.
Key Questions Answered
Chitra Das from Sudpur village in Katwa overcame extreme poverty after being widowed at 14 by working as a maid and mill laborer. Following her son's suggestion, she formed a female drummer troupe in 2014, trained under Nadu Das, and became widely known as 'Chitra Dhaki' for performing during Durga Puja.
Chitra Das started her journey to self-reliance in 2014 when she and her son initiated a troupe of female drummers with ten women from their village. Despite lacking funds, they raised money independently, purchased dhaks, and learned to play from village drummer Nadu Das.
Aside from local village pujas and various regions across West Bengal, Chitra Dhaki and her all-female troupe receive invitations to perform outside the state. They have successfully captivated audiences with their dhak performances in states such as Assam, Odisha, and Tripura.
