Complex sentence: The pungi was popular in the Badagutittū about fifty years ago, however, prior to this, it derived from Indian folk music and was used for religious purposes for snake charming (Chhau: 1983: 189).
Split into simpler sentences: The pungi was popular in the Badagutittū about fifty years ago. However, prior to this, it derived from Indian folk music and was used for religious purposes for snake charming (Chhau: 1983: 189).