Kolkata: The Mukha Mela or the mask festival going on at Kushmandi in the Dakshin Dinajpur district will end today.
Kushmandi has been developed as Rural Craft Hubs State by the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Textiles (MSME&T) Department in collaboration with UNESCO. Kushmandi is famous for wooden masks that are used in the traditional Gomira dance.
This place is where the 250 artisans acclaimed in the art of wooden mask-making of the Rajbongshi community live, and the festival is the best time to witness their craft in full splendour.
In this edition of the festival about 186 wooden mask artisans, 63 cane and bamboo artisans, 171 pottery artisans, and khon mukha artisans hailing from Uttar and Dakshin Dinajpur are displaying their art. The festival had visitors from across the state and foreign countries. These masks, which are a part of village dance performers’ costume, have now found their pride of place in the art lovers’ collections.
Mahishbathan Gramin Hasta Shilpa Samabay Samity organised folk performances during the festival with the support from the West Bengal Khadi and Village Industries Board (WBKVIB).
The mask-making industry has received much needed push due to the special emphasis laid by Chief Minister Mamata on its revival. (UNI)