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Chhau mask
The Chhau mask is a traditional cultural heritage of Purulia in the Indian state of West Bengal. The Chhau mask of Purulia is registered on the List of Geographical Indications. As the basic difference of Purulia Chhau the mask is unique and traditional.
It is the mask which differentiates the Purulia Chhau from its other two significant branches: the Seraikella Chhau of Jharkhand and the Mayurbhanj Chhau of Odisha. The Jharkhand counterpart does involve masks but they are rather simpler, small and evocative, without any of the pompous vibrancy of the Purulia variants. While the Mayurbhanj type is an unmasked form. It is the Purulia form only that uses large evocative masks along with elaborate costumes that intensify the energetic performance, despite the challenges to physicalization.
The mask allows the artists to morph into the character — therefore Anusua Mukherjee notes that when an artists wears a particular mask, he or she “gets into character immediately, transforming into mellow Kartik, fierce Ravana, or Durga’s ferocious lion”. Chhau artist Anil Mahato says, “Shiva danced the tandava : wearing his mask brings in that frisson for me.” One could perhaps imagine the centrality of the mask to Chhau dance with the Thalia or the Melpomene masks used in Greek Comedy and Tragedy theatres respectively, or perhaps the masks used in mystery plays during the middle ages
The tradition of making Chhau masks started during the rule of king Madan Mohan Singh Deo of Baghmundi. The Chhau mask is traditionally associated with the age-old dance forms in Purulia district.
The tradition of mask-making was popularised by Buddeshwar, who is venerated as the first mask maker of Charida. In Charida, there is also a statue of Buddeshwar. He is said to have created the first male and female masks, known as Kirat and Kiratni, representing forms of Shiva and Parvati. This was a turning point in the history of mask-making.
The Purulia Chhau mask received the GI tag in 2018. This has been a welcome step: the artists have become more aware of their intellectual property rights. Besides being used for performances, some of the masks are sold as keepsakes and souvenirs particularly to the tourists.
The masks are of various types used for particular dance renditions. They are classified into the babu, bir, bhoot, animal, birds, and nari masks.
The babu category includes masks for chiefly male gods like Narayana, Ganesha, Kartik, Krishna, Shiva, etc. The bir or the hero masks would include those worn by artists who play the demons like Ravana and Mahishasura. Tiger, buffalo, monkey heroes like Bali and Sugriva from the epic Ramayana fall under the category of animal masks. Durga, Parvati, Saraswati and incarnations of the Goddess are categorised under the nari or women masks, while bird masks are for Jatayu, peacock, swan, etc.
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Chhau mask
The Chhau mask is a traditional cultural heritage of Purulia in the Indian state of West Bengal. The Chhau mask of Purulia is registered on the List of Geographical Indications. As the basic difference of Purulia Chhau the mask is unique and traditional.
It is the mask which differentiates the Purulia Chhau from its other two significant branches: the Seraikella Chhau of Jharkhand and the Mayurbhanj Chhau of Odisha. The Jharkhand counterpart does involve masks but they are rather simpler, small and evocative, without any of the pompous vibrancy of the Purulia variants. While the Mayurbhanj type is an unmasked form. It is the Purulia form only that uses large evocative masks along with elaborate costumes that intensify the energetic performance, despite the challenges to physicalization.
The mask allows the artists to morph into the character — therefore Anusua Mukherjee notes that when an artists wears a particular mask, he or she “gets into character immediately, transforming into mellow Kartik, fierce Ravana, or Durga’s ferocious lion”. Chhau artist Anil Mahato says, “Shiva danced the tandava : wearing his mask brings in that frisson for me.” One could perhaps imagine the centrality of the mask to Chhau dance with the Thalia or the Melpomene masks used in Greek Comedy and Tragedy theatres respectively, or perhaps the masks used in mystery plays during the middle ages
The tradition of making Chhau masks started during the rule of king Madan Mohan Singh Deo of Baghmundi. The Chhau mask is traditionally associated with the age-old dance forms in Purulia district.
The tradition of mask-making was popularised by Buddeshwar, who is venerated as the first mask maker of Charida. In Charida, there is also a statue of Buddeshwar. He is said to have created the first male and female masks, known as Kirat and Kiratni, representing forms of Shiva and Parvati. This was a turning point in the history of mask-making.
The Purulia Chhau mask received the GI tag in 2018. This has been a welcome step: the artists have become more aware of their intellectual property rights. Besides being used for performances, some of the masks are sold as keepsakes and souvenirs particularly to the tourists.
The masks are of various types used for particular dance renditions. They are classified into the babu, bir, bhoot, animal, birds, and nari masks.
The babu category includes masks for chiefly male gods like Narayana, Ganesha, Kartik, Krishna, Shiva, etc. The bir or the hero masks would include those worn by artists who play the demons like Ravana and Mahishasura. Tiger, buffalo, monkey heroes like Bali and Sugriva from the epic Ramayana fall under the category of animal masks. Durga, Parvati, Saraswati and incarnations of the Goddess are categorised under the nari or women masks, while bird masks are for Jatayu, peacock, swan, etc.
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