Under the museum series ‘Exhibit of the Month’ of Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya, a traditional object is displayed in the appearance for a whole month.
The exhibit for the month of August- ‘Bohada-Sohang’ mask of mythological characters of Kokna tribe from Thane district in Maharashtra is on display in the indoor exhibition building– Veethi Sankul.
The ‘exhibit of the month’ has been inaugurated by Naval Shukla, Director, Bhojpuri Sahitya Akademi, Bhopal.
He said “Human weaknesses and high ontological expressions can be easily presented by masks (Sohang)”. Prof Sarit Kumar Chaudhuri (Director, IGRMS) said that masks have at all times played a prominent role in cultural development. This exhibit of the month has been compiled by Ashok Kumar Sharma (Museum Associate).
Jawhar village in Thane district of Maharashtra has the culture of preparing wooden masks known as Sohang of mythological characters for Bohada festival.
The Bohada Mask dance festival is an institution in itself, because it is a platform to socialise and enculturate the younger generation about religion, art, dance forms, music, social relations, rituals, myths, history, drama, seasonal cycle, social solidarity and so on.
It enhances organisational ability of the village and promotes cultural and multi-ethnic solidarity.It is a social force that binds and brings people together. It is a platform for enriching the process of enculturation and socialisation for the younger tribal generations.
Through Bohada Sohang (mask) festival youngsters learn all about mask’s characters, their nature and role in sustaining humanity and the powers possessed by these mask gods and goddesses and myths associated with them, while learning about seasonal cycles and economic organisations, developing social relationships, the processes and sequence of rituals and to organise the festival.