Under the forty one series of its online exhibition, Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya today presented the masks prevalent among the tribal and folk communities of India in the Veethi Sankul-Indoor Gallery No.8 of Manav Sangrahalaya. The ‘masks’ have been exhibited online with its basic information and photographs and videos.
About this exhibition, Praveen Kumar Mishra, Director, IGRMS said that – The gallery was opened in the year 2007 on the auspicious occasion of Foundation Day celebration of the Museum.
In this gallery, 183 masks are displayed showcasing the aspects of their traditional uses in the ceremonies, festivals and dances of tribal and folk communities residing in the different ecological and geographical settings.
The exhibition includes masks from Rajbanshi community of West Bengal, metal mask from the Tulu people of Karnataka, the Baiga of Madhya Pradesh; mask traditions from Odisha and Himachal Pradesh, Buddhist masks from the Monpa tribe of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkimese people of Sikkim.
About the Masks, Umesh Kumar Jhariya, Museum Assistant told that РThis gallery exhibits a large variety of masks available in different media like wood, brass, papier-m̢ch̩ decorated with feathers of peacock which culturally specifies the unique craftsmanship and geographical distinction of their origin and local resources.
Using the medium of these masks, the metaphors of various legendary figures, ancestral and guardian deities theatrically presented to inform the masses about the prowess and morals of these characters.