Art and culture of India

Soumyabrata Roy

A village idol artist makes large color masks modeled after Purulia Chhau dance masks (Purulia Chhau dance is listed on UNESCO's World Heritage list of dances) of goddesses, animals, and rakshasas (humanoid demons or unrighteous spirits) like Hindu mythology characters out of clay. The artist then paints with color and adorning ornament the clay masks, which will be installed in a Jagaddhatri Puja pandal. Then workers are carrying the finished masks in a car at Tehatta, West Bengal, India on 20/11/2023.