Mukhabhinaya- the three day long National Mask Dance festival commenced in Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya. The chief guest of the inaugural function was DRM, Bhopal, Mr. Rajiv Choudhary and Mrs. Choudhary.
The guests were welcomed by procession of mask artists of Andhra Pradesh and Assam. On this occasion Director, Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya, Mr. Arun Kumar Shrivastava accompanied chief guest during the lighting the lamp ceremony.
Artists from Orissa, Assam, Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand, are participating traditional mask dance of their region during the three day long National Dance festival. On the first day artists from Assam, Jharkhand, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh presented Bagh Dance, Tiwa Mukha Dance, Garaga Dance and Chhau dance respectively. Huge audience was present to see the cultural performances organised.
Bagh Dance- The animal mask dance locally known as Pasu Mukha Nritya is one of the ancient dance forms prevailed in the district of Ganjam, Odisha, especially in Bhanjanagar sub-division.
The northern part of Ganjam is the most populated area of tribes and Goddess Byaghra Devi and Thakurnai Devi is worship by the tribals as their deities. For further details of the programme coordinator Rajendra Kumar Jhariya could be contacted on the following mobile number 9009334997.