Tag: Masks & Veils

“Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.”

Culture

Chhau Dance & Paryavaran Mela in Ranchi

We went to the Paryavaran Mela in Ranchi and saw a lovely Chhau dance in the evening. Chhau binds together people from different social strata and ethnic backgrounds with diverse social practices, beliefs, professions, and languages. This semi-classical dance form originated at the royal court of Saraikela, now in Jharkhand. However, increasing industrialization, economic pressures, and new media are leading to a decrease in collective participation with communities becoming disconnected from their roots. Continue reading Chhau Dance & Paryavaran Mela in Ranchi

Judhajit Roychoudhury10 Comments
Travel

Encountered a Highway Dacoity in Jharkhand

It was in the month of January 2001. I was then posted at the bank’s zonal office in Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand state. Occasionally, I had to visit various branches in the state of Jharkhand for official purposes. Many areas in Jharkhand were infested with Maoist rebels then. From the security point of view, we used to travel during the daytime and reach the … Continue reading Encountered a Highway Dacoity in Jharkhand

Indrajit RoyChoudhury9 Comments
History, Travel

Iraq Museum | Refuge for Relics of Mesopotamia

The Iraq Museum is one of the best archaeological museums in the world, containing the material evidence for the development of civilised human society from the very beginning of its history. The museum enshrines Iraq as the cradle of civilisation, the source of writing and statehood. Their collection covers over 5,000 years of Mesopotamian history. Continue reading Iraq Museum | Refuge for Relics of Mesopotamia

Indrajit RoyChoudhury11 Comments
History

Mukhosh | Masks of Bengal

I was travelling to Ranchi from Kolkata. I saw traditional Bengali masks were being displayed at the departure terminal of the Kolkata airport. It’s a nice way to promote the ancient craft of mask-making in Bengal. Throughout the world, masks are used for their expressive power as a feature of masked performance — both ritually and in various theatre traditions. Continue reading Mukhosh | Masks of Bengal

Indrajit RoyChoudhury18 Comments