Gomira Mask of West Bengal

THE STORY BEHIND THE MASKS

The Gomira mask dance of the Uttar and Dakshin Dinajpur districts originates in the animistic belief systems of the Desi and Pali groups within the Rajbangshi community. Also known as the Mukha dance, Gomira performances are traditionally organised during the harvesting season to propitiate local deities, invite benevolent forces, and ward off malevolent spirits. The dance is performed exclusively by men, who enact a range of characters—male, female, and animal—through elaborate, oversized masks that lend scale, drama, and visual intensity to the performance.

The ritual sequence customarily begins with the appearance of Bura–Buri, understood as the human manifestations of Shiva and Parvati. The dancers, often performing in an intense and frenzied state, are regarded with reverence by the audience, who believe that supernatural forces temporarily inhabit their bodies during the ritual. Beyond its ritual significance, Gomira also functions as a source of communal celebration and entertainment.

From the 1970s onwards, villagers began adapting the masked dance to narrative performances drawn from the Ramayana, enabling it to be staged beyond the agricultural calendar. A production titled Ramer Banobas was developed, accompanied by masks representing figures such as Ram, Lakshman, Sita, Ravana, Surpanakha, Marich, and Jatayu. Over time, Gomira masks have extended their relevance beyond performance, acquiring an independent market as decorative objects valued in both public and private settings.

Gomira masks are traditionally carved from wood and bamboo and were originally conceived as objects of worship and ritual devotion. In their earliest form, the practice of mask making was closely tied to the ritual requirements of the dancers as well as to the needs of villagers who offered masks to the village deity as acts of reverence.

Wooden Gomira masks depict characters associated with two distinct performance traditions: the Gomira dance and Ramer Bonobas. The craft is distinguished by its finely articulated forms and detailed visual treatment, through which each character is vividly represented. In recognition of its cultural and artisanal significance, the wooden Gomira mask was accorded Geographical Indication (GI) status in 2018.

Craft hub

Kushmandi in Dakshin Dinajpur is widely recognised as a major centre for the tradition of wooden mask making associated with Gomira performance. A registered cooperative, Mahishbathan Gramin Hasta Shilpa Samabay Samity Limited, is based in Khuniadangi and functions as a collective of artisans from surrounding villages who are committed to sustaining this craft practice. Wooden mask makers are concentrated in villages such as Mahishbathan, Mangaldaha, Madhupur, Ruanagar, Sabdalpur, and Sindurmuchi, among others.

Kushmandi represents the largest hub of Gomira mask production, while the nearby village of Ushaharan in Baishyapara has also emerged as an important centre for mask making. Artisan Sankar Das has represented the tradition internationally, including travel to countries such as the United Kingdom and France to present the craft of wooden masks.

Across Uttar and Dakshin Dinajpur, approximately 168 artisans are engaged in this craft tradition. Leading practitioners from the region include Sankar Das, Ananta Sarkar, Gopal Baishya, Tulu Sarkar, Sanjulal Sarkar, Jaga Baishya, and Gostho Baishya. To support the preservation and promotion of the craft, a folk art centre with a community museum has been established at Kushmandi by the West Bengal Khadi & Village Industries Board.

Process

The production of wooden Gomira masks follows a sequential and carefully controlled process. It begins with the cross-sectional cutting of wood or bamboo, after which the design is drawn directly onto the block. The form and features of the mask are then shaped through detailed carving. Once carved, the masks are finished through painting, polishing, or surface burning using a gas lamp. Commonly used tools include hammers, chisels, and hand drills.

Gomira masks are made from locally available wood, with lightweight varieties being preferred for ease of use during performance. Gamhar is particularly favoured, though Shegun, Mahogany, and Mango wood are also used. Prior to carving, the wood undergoes seasoning and treatment to enhance durability. Traditional treatment involves repeated cycles of soaking and drying over an extended period, which helps reduce cracking and limits infestation.

In addition, a chemical treatment may be employed to achieve similar results. This involves soaking the wood blocks in a solution of boric acid, borax, and copper sulphate mixed in one litre of water in the proportion of 3:4:5. This process protects the wood from termites and other pests and improves its resistance and longevity.

Products

Gomira mask makers produce representations of a wide range of mythical figures, including Bhadra Kali, Narasimha, Bibhishan, Ravana, and Hanuman, each rendered with a high degree of intricacy and visual detail. In addition to these divine and epic characters, artisans also carve animal forms such as tigers, lions, and deer.

Over time, wooden mask makers have expanded their repertoire beyond ritual and performance-related objects. Contemporary production now includes decorative showpieces such as mermaids, boats, smaller masks, and other innovative forms. Artisans have also diversified into functional items, producing utility objects such as lampshades, pen stands, baskets, and bamboo furniture, thereby adapting traditional skills to evolving markets.

Festival

Each year, the mask-making community of Kushmandi organises festivals dedicated to celebrating local cultural heritage. These events draw significant numbers of visitors and contribute to positioning the rural landscape as an emerging centre for cultural tourism, while also enhancing the visibility and value of the region’s traditional craft practices.

Folk art centre

A folk art centre has been established at Kushmandi with the support of the West Bengal Khadi and Village Industries Board. The centre functions as a shared workshop space where mask makers gather daily to produce a variety of craft items. It also includes a gallery that displays different types of masks and documents the traditional processes involved in the making of wooden Gomira masks, serving both as a site of production and as a space for public engagement and learning.