Kushmandi Wooden Gomira Tribal Face Mask – Handcrafted Ritual Wall Art (12 Inches)

Provenance

Known locally as Mukha, Kushmandi wooden masks are deeply embedded in the ritual life of the Rajbanshi community of South Dinajpur, West Bengal. These masks are integral to the Gomira dance, a non-vocal ceremonial performance enacted to invoke benevolent forces and drive away negative energies from villages.

Unlike character-specific masks, the Gomira Face Mask represents a generalized protective spirit. Its intense visual language—blood-shot eyes, flared nostrils, deeply wrinkled skin, and an open mouth with pronounced fangs—is deliberately exaggerated to project vigilance, dominance, and supernatural strength. During performances, dancers are believed to enter trance-like states, embodying the spiritual force invoked through the mask rather than merely portraying it.

Each mask is carved entirely by hand from seasoned neem or gamhar wood. The wood undergoes a traditional preparation process, including water or boric solution treatment followed by sun-drying, to improve durability and resist infestation. Artisans then sculpt bold curvatures and expressive detailing before finishing the surface in vivid reds or greens—colours historically associated with protection, power, and ritual energy.

In recognition of its cultural and artistic significance, the Kushmandi Wooden Mask craft received Geographical Indication (GI) status in 2016 from the Government of India. This piece has been handcrafted by Shri N. C. Sarkar, preserving a living tradition shaped by ritual practice, community identity, and generational knowledge.

Disclaimer

• Each mask is handcrafted; minor variations in colour, carving, and detailing may occur

• These variations are inherent to traditional wooden craft techniques

• Such differences enhance the individuality and authenticity of every piece