The six-day-long workshop cum exhibition on SeraikellaChhau mask making, organized by Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, Regional Centre Ranchi, concluded here on Monday. The Seraikella Chhau workshop was conducted and exhibition was curated by Guru Sushant Mahapatra, an eminent artist and teacher in this field. He was assisted by his disciples SumitMahapatra, DakeswarMahato, Ravi Nayak, AbhiNayak and BauriBandhuMahato.
The most important part of the Sareikella Dance form is the mask. The knowledge of dance, music and mask-making is transmitted orally. The mask depicts the character the dancer is performing. Paper, mud, and clay are the main ingredients required to prepare a Chhau masks. The masks are painted in pastel shades and have a frank, simple, and bold look. Various tribal, folk, mythological and vaishnavite masks are worn by the dancers to enact characters accordingly. The making of the mask needs skill, artistic approach and time to be prepared.
The making of a mask goes through many stages. 8–10 layers of soft paper, immersed in diluted glue, are pasted one after another on the mould before the mud mould is dusted with fine ash powder. The facial features are made of clay. A special layer of mud and cloth is applied and the mask is then sun-dried. After this, the mould is polished and a second round of sun drying is done before separating the layers of cloth and paper from the mould. After finishing and drilling of holes for the nose and eyes, the mask is coloured and decorated.
Each mask is visualized by studying the character it is to represent, and then given shape and substance. Almost all masks are painted a flat pastel shade, and in some cases the colour is chosen to augment the overall effect of the disguise. The stylized contours of the eyebrows, eyes and mouthy are painstakingly painted, for they bring into vivid relief the distinctive character with which a particular mask is associated.
The exhibition was visited by more than four hundred spectators. Many important personalities including (Prof) Dr R.K. Pandey, Vice Chancellor, Ranchi University; Prof (Dr) Kamini Kumar, Pro.Vice Chancellor, Ranchi University; Padma Shri recipient Mukund Nayak, Swami Bhaveshananda, Head and Secretary, Ramakrishna Ashram Ranchi; Dr. B.N Jha ‘Bidit’, Dr. Binod Kumar, Head of the Department, TRL, SPM University; Dr. Neha Tiwari; Dr. Harendra Prasad Sinha; Shri Kalyan K. Chatterjee, IFS (Retired); Prof. A.P. Singh, Lucknow University and Prof. Mohan K. Gautam, Chancellor & President, Director-PIO Institute, European University of West & East, Netherlands and Santosh Kumar Satpathy, acting Chair Person, Human Rights Commission, Jharkhand, graced the exhibition and workshop.
The exhibition showcased 60 vibrant and colourful Seraikella Chhau Masks which portrayed different characters of the dance namely, Arti, Banavidya, Barsha, Bhim, Chandrabhaga, Devdasi, Durga, Duryodhan, Eklavya, Ganesh, Garur, Rainbow, Hara Parvati, Hrishya Singha Muni, etc. A brief concept about Seraikella Chhau dance and its masks was also exhibited for the information of the masses. Mannequins of Seraikella Chhau dancers in different postures attracted special attention.
About 100 upcoming art aspirants, art lovers and students from various colleges and universities participated in the workshop. The talented participants took immense interest in learning such a skilled art form and they also crafted magnificent and colourful masks. On the occasion of the closing ceremony, all the participants were invited and were awarded with certificates by Dr. Ajay Kumar Mishra, Regional Director, IGNCA, RCR.
Dr. Mishra congratulated all the artistes and thanked them for being a part of the venture. IGNCA, RCR received great appreciation for taking up such an endeavor and also making it successful.