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Painting Kali Masks
Artists from Dinajpur2019
Banglanatak
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Wooden mask-making of Dinajpur districts of Bengal is an age-old tradition and a community craft associated with worship of the deities of 'Shakti' (strength). The mask-makers constitute a highly skilled community who have kept their tradition alive for generations. Kushmandi, a hub of these mask-makers has a Geographical Indication as well for which the wooden masks are also referred to as Kushmandi masks. After carving the wooden masks, those are painted with bright colours, as is depicted in this image.
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Details
- Title: Painting Kali Masks
- Creator: Artists from Dinajpur
- Date Created: 2019
- Location: Dinajpur Districts
- Subject Keywords: Crafts, Wooden Mask, Craftspersons, Artists, Bengal, Kushmandi
- Rights: Banglanatak.com
- Medium: Wood carving and acrylic colour
- About the craft: Wooden Masks (locally known as 'Mukha') of Dinajpur districts of West Bengal are traditionally objects of worship and devotion, associated with local dance form, Gomira, unique to the Rajbangshi community. The wood-crafted Gomira masks represent various characters of the two distinct forms of the dance - the Gomira dance and Ramer Bonobas. The word Gomira comes from the word ‘Gramchadi’ (representing local deity of 'Shakti'), and their masks represent different forms of Kali as well, among other gods and goddesses. This mask-dance tradition emerged from the animistic practices of the Desi and Poli communities of the Rajbangshis who constitute the largest native community of North Bengal. These Gomira masks, apart from being used in Gomira dance are also pledged to the different deities worshipped locally. During the past few decades, Gomira masks have evolved into a coveted collectors' item and therefore artists are now making diversified products. Kushmandi, a major hub of these mask-makers in Dakshin Dinajpur has a GI status.
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