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Gomira Mask Of West Bengal (Female Adivasi)

Gomira Mask Of West Bengal (Female Adivasi)

Code GM18

For shipping with in India and out of India, the rates as per courier company charges will apply.

Medium: Wood
Size: 43x11x6 Inch
Location: Delhi

The Gamira mask is a part of the Gomira dance, which originated in the South and North Dinajpur districts of West Bengal. The Gamira mask is the ecstatic wooden mask of Kushmandi, which is primarily associated with the Rajbangshi community of the area. The word Gamira is colloquial from Gram-Chandi, who is a female goddess. The exact origin of this craft is no doubt very old, and some of the craftsmen claim it is at least as old as the beginning of kaliyug. The wood-crafted Gamira mask represents two distinct forms. The characters of two distinct forms of the dance are the Gamira and the Ram-Vanwas. The scary masks of the Gamira are made from the wood of the Gamar tree. Holes are made under the eyes of the mask for the wearer to see.

The makers of these masks are mainly from the village of Mahisbathan, where a handicraft hub has been developed as a part of a rural craft hub. This initiative has been taken by the MSME department of the Government of West Bengal in collaboration with UNESCO. At first, the artist prepares a model from mashed paper layered upon a piece of cloth soaked in mud water. After drying the cloth, it is topped with sponge wood and coloured. For the glow, it is given a varnish polish on the mask and decorated with sequences, foil, and coloured paper. The Gamira dances are organised to worship the goddess, welcome the good forces, and drive out the evil forces. The mask dance takes place between mid-April and mid-July.

For shipping with in India and out of India, the rates as per courier company charges will apply.

Arts Of The Earth This artwork is accompanied by an Authenticity Certificate.

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