Under the popular 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 April, 2021 - 'Gajamukha' Elephant Faced Mask from Odisha, is on display in the indoor exhibition building – Veethi Sankul.
The 'exhibit of the month' was inaugurated by Chandra Madhav Barik, Ballet Choreographer and renowned people present on this occasion. This exhibit of the month has been compiled and composed by Sudeepa Roy (Assistant Keeper). At the beginning of the program, Surya Kumar Pandey introduced Chandra Madhav Barik.
About the exhibit displayed in the exhibition Sudeepa Roy, Assistant Keeper told that Lord Ganesha is considered as the deity of auspicious therefore having idols or a symbol of Ganesha in any form is considered good amongst Hindus. This exhibit Gajamukha - elephant faced mask represents Lord Ganesha. Gajamukha is one of 21 names of Lord Ganesha.
Odisha a coastal state of India is known for its rich cultural heritage and creative art is one of its most important element. Gajamukha is comprised of two words Gaja and Mukha in which Gaja means elephant and Mukha means face.
In Oria local dialect Mukha is used for mask. In Odisha one can find wide range of masks prepared in various mediums like wood, solapith, papier-mâché, cow dung etc. Being light in weight and because of easy availability paper or paper pulp is most preferable medium for crafting masks, toys and various decorative items by the artists of Odisha.
Technical expertise and aesthetic sense of rural artists expressed in these articles is amazing. Although masks are used for various purposes like decoration, dances, religious procession etc. but this type of huge masks mostly find space on walls for decorative purpose.
Process of Making Mask-A base mould of desired size and shape according to the object is made with hard and sticky clay collected from the pond and dried in sun.
This mould is covered with several layers of paper using tamarind seed glue and kept to be hard.