Under the latest and popular online series of Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya entitled ‘Exhibit of the Week’, Khisra, a double faced wooden mask of male collected from 1995, was exhibited.
It belongs to the community of Rajwar of Surguja, Chhattisgarh. It’s Measurement is, Max Height 33 cm., Max Width 22 cm. It was displayed in the audience, as The First exhibit of the month June, 2021 through official website, Facebook, Instagram and twitter page of the IGRMS.
In this regard Praveen Kumar Mishra, Director, IGRMS said that Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya (National Museum of Mankind), Initially this series will focus on the masterpieces from its collection which are considered as unique for their contribution to the cultural history of a particular ethnic group or area. Khisra is a double faced wooden mask and is used by a male of the Rajwar community of Chhattisgarh at the time of Saila dance.
The Saila dance is a kind of merry making festival organized by the villagers after the harvest season. The festival is held in the month of Paush (December- January) according to their lunar calendar.
In this dance form the boys moves to strike their stick against the stick of the person standing next to them. The word Khisra means a jester who wears the mask in the group and makes the people laugh. The mask is made up of Haldu and Sajja wood by the local carpenter.
A team of 40-50 people wearing beautiful turbans move with Khisra and entertain the villagers. In return the village people greet Khisra by offering rice, pulses and vegetables. This particular double faced wooden mask portrays two jesters at one time. The procession takes place for two months and after completion of the festival the mask is kept inside the Kothar - a community house.