Green and Black Kathakali Mask – DPCM 12225

Kathakali is a major form of classical Indian dance. It is a “story play” genre of art, but one distinguished by the elaborately colorful make-up, costumes, and face masks that the traditionally male actor-dancers wear. Kathakali is a Hindu performance art in the Malayalam-speaking southwestern region of Kerala. A vibrant Chau mask will be the center of attraction of your home. Keep it in your hall room area for a showcase.

As the product is handmade, it might have slight irregularities of shape and colour which is a natural outcome of human involvement.

The mask used in the Chhau dance of Purulia is mainly for mythological characters such as Mahishasur-Mardini, Rama-Sita, the fight between Rama and Ravana, etc. Sometimes small Santhal couple masks are used. Mostly made of paper pulp and clay, Chhau masks are often huge in size but not heavy since the performers wear them during the show. The clay molds are first hand-made and dried in the sun known as ‘mati gora’. They are then layered with powdered ashes. Masks could also represent the shaman’s spiritual helpers, which he would try to influence in times of need. Sometimes hung in houses to ward off harmful spirits. Masks were also occasionally placed with the dead or used in non-spiritual contexts for popular entertainment.
Chau masks are made from paper pulp, cloth, and clay and undergo many interim processes before taking the final form. First, a clay model of a mask is made and dried in direct sunlight to make it hard. It is then covered with powdered ash and layers of papers moistened with gum are pasted on this powdered mask.