The mask-makers of Purulia and their village


The mask maker is busy in his work
Mask is decorated with paint and colourful paper
The makers of masks of Purulia Chhau dance are caste Hindus, they come from a high social group among the Hindus. They live in isolation in one village named Chorida or Chorda in the district of Purulia, only two miles away from Bagmundi, they seat of a former feudal chief known as Raja of Bagmundi. About 75 years ago, one family of mask makers migrated from Chordia to Domordi, another village in the same district,and, started a second centre of mask making there. But at the latter place, masks are made not commercial purpose as for the purpose of utilising them for performances organised by the craftsmen themselves. If quality masks are needed by any party of performers, the buyers have to go to the Chorida, the parent village.
               Chorida is a fairly village, inhabited by about 70-75 families of Bhumij, 40-45 families of Sutradhar or mask-makers, 20 families of Dom, 20 families of Bhatt,12 families of Gorai, 2 families of upper cast Brambhins, 3 families of Ghasi, one family each of Napit, Matal Mandali and Rajput. Besides, there are about 50 families of Mura in the village living in its western fringe beyond a specious traditional Mura cemetary which seems to be in use for a long time.
                Ingredients and tools for making the mask are very simple. They are follows: Mud collected from the bed of a nearby hill stream, torn pieces of paper, rags, glue, made of flour, small chisel made of wood, wooden hammer, scissors, dye of different shades.
Chorida Village
The mask-makers of Chhau of Chorida, generally speaking, do not participate in Chhau dance performance, because during the season, they earn more money by making mask than by participating in dance. The Chhau dancers dance entirely out of their love for it and not greed for money.

Mask shape is being formed from the clay layer

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