Popular mask dances of India

by Subashini PATHMANATHAN

Masks play an important role in classical, folk and ritual dances of India, South East Asia, and Far East Asian dances. Masks have an impact on the mind of the audience. Indian sub continent's festivals are associated with pomp, glamour, dance, music, and drama.

The classical dance forms like Kathakali, Yakshanagana, and a variety of ritual regional folk dances, and numerous folk dances use masks for the selective roles, and characters. Among these mask dances in West Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa there is a particular variety of dance called Chau dance, which is one of the most popular dance forms which exist in three different districts of India. In West Bengal the Chau is called Purila; in Bihar the Chau is called Seraikella, and in Orissa the Chau is called Mayurbhanj. In the Mayurbhanj district of Orissa, rulers had an excellent relationship with Serikaella Kings, who sent a Chau master to the village Baripada to influence the Chau dance style of Orissa. Later the Mayurbhanji Chau of Orissa discarded the use of masks for the Chau dance. Martial art traditions are deeply involved with these traditions.

The masks reveal the role of the individual character, and sex of each mask dancer. The masks not only represent the humans, but also they represent the animals and birds. Earlier the masks were made out of wood only. But with the passage of time masks were made out of many varieties of materials including clay, bamboo, paper, painted with colourful paints.

Literally Chau means shadow, image, and disguise. Generally Chau dances have certain characters, like beautiful rhythmic patterns, vigorous dance movements, whilst maintaining steady and stable leg positions while dancing.

In Bihar Seraikella Chau originated in a small village, and surrounding areas, during the festival season of charitra parva. The Chau dance is closely associated with the worship of Siva and Sakthi.

The kings were not only the patrons of these art forms but also they were the experts in dance, dance choreography, and mask making. This variety of dance form resembles the mask dance forms of Japan and Indonesia. Due to the numerous changes in the outlook of entire social set up, it lost its ritual importance.

Wearing masks is common in the Seraikala Chau. The theme of the dance is expressed through songs. The meaning of the song is interpreted through body movements, and variety of poses. Movements of the dance start with vibrating movements of the foot, and slowly through the variety of body movements or body gestures the whole theme is expressed.

The instruments used are, string instrument Veena, leather instrument like Dhol, Nagada, Dhannsa, and Chadchadi forms of drums are also used, and wind instrument like flute is also used.

In the Purulia Chau more prominence is given to the use of masks. One can identify the highly developed craftsmanship in these masks. Almost every house is actively involved with making of masks during the season. This dance form is closely associated with Hindu religious philosophy, and aerobatic techniques. Unlike Seraikela Chau, in the Purulia Chau the drummer sings the introductory song and plays the rhythmic pattern. The main character speaks with other characters. Each mask is made according to the nature of the characteristic role of each character. Like all other classical dance forms folk mask dances also have Nirtha Nirthya, and Natya divisions of dance as well as Thandavas, and Lassiya aspects of dance.

In the classical dance of Kerala, Kathakali, evolved out of certain older classical art forms of Kerala, like Kodiattam, Chakaiyar Koothu, Ramarattam, and Krishnaattam of Kerala, which use the mask and make up together is regarded as the most popular make up based mask classical dance form of India of today. Yakshanagana dance form of Karnataka also uses the masks like Kathakali. Masks mean the full face covered masks as well as side face masks.In Sri Lanka, in the Southern regions masks are used for certain ritual dance to cure eighteen variety of disease.