"ERAJBALA" – A mask" is second Exhibit of the Week of this month at IGRMS
Wednesday - December 16, 2020 10:47 am ,
Category : BHOPAL
Bhopal, Dec 15 (WTN): Under the latest and popular online series of Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya (IGRMS) entitled Exhibit Week’ the 'ERAJBALA – A mask of Muriya community of Bastar Chhattisgarh' displayed for the audience as The Second Exhibit of the month of December 2020. This exhibit is also can be seen through official website, Facebook, Instagram and twitter page of the IGRMS.
Dr. Praveen Kumar Mishra, Director, IGRMS said that this series of “exhibit of the Week” presents the best of the artefacts that showcases the incredible cultural history of the ethnic tribes or areas across the country. Masks are worn on various occasions which may be either ceremonial or purposive. Dimension of this mask is – Length- 51.5 cm , Width – 14.5 cm, Height -9.5 cm.
Constituent material varies depending on the user. Every mask is a representation of a character, whether it may be a demon or a deity. Erajbala is a lightweight wooden mask worn by the Muria Jester during the dance performance, especially on a ceremonial parade of the Chherta expedition and other festivals.
Dr Sudeepa Roy said that The Chherta is one of the popular celebrations held with great fun by the Murias boys and girls. The leading dancer is enacted with a Jester appearance to entertain the villagers, and they visit each house and perform dances to ask for liquor, rice, pulse, and other foods to arrange a feast.
This mask worn by the Jester is represented by two pairs of projected wooden horns, brass rings fixed as an orbit to the eyes, metal teeth, and moustaches of animal hair containing strips of hides. During the performance, the Jester used to wear this mask, and he also accompanies a prop of stick to entertain the audience. In the present situation, this kind of rare artifact is slowly disappearing from the glorious tradition of the Muria festivity.- Window To News
