#mask

These are mask makers of #majuli island in #assam #india which is the largest #riverine #island situated in #brahmaputra_river
There is a rich tradition in #Vaishnavite mutts of these masks making.
These masks are made from local and #biodegradables #materials making them #ecofriendly . We are seeing the masks at the place of Hemchandra Goswami.
These masks owe their existence to the saint Srimanta Sankardev, 15-16 century assamese polymath, who introduced them in #bhaona the #art of #storytelling .
These masks are made based on morphological and structural purposes. The morphological part includes loukik (worldly) and oloukik (supernatural) masks. The loukik masks represent human beings and animals, while the oloukik masks are exclusively for supernatural characters.
The structural purpose is divided into three types. Mukh mukha or Mur mukha is a type made only to cover the face of the actor. Bor Mukha or Su Mukha is another type that covers almost the entire body of the performer. The head portion of a Bor Mukha is known as Mukha, and the body is called Su. The third type, known as Lutukai or Lutukori Mukha is comparatively smaller than Su Mukha.
Apart from the traditional theatrical performances, these masks are now also used for different purposes- in modern plays, home decorations, and museum displays. The mask artists of Majuli aspire to reflect expressions of globalization through their traditional craftsmanship. This innovative experiment with the craft has popularized this tradition worldwide. These masks are also available as gifts in different sizes. It is a concerted effort to keep the heritage of mask-making alive to date.