Behind a mask
By ARM
@responsiveme (22926)
India
February 1, 2019 8:54pm CST
In this case they are the dancers who are taking part in a traditional drama called Bhaona.The medium of this performing art is a part of the culture of this place .
Mask making is an art in the largest riverine island of Brahmaputra,the mighty river flowing through my state. During festivals this type of drama is staged with stories from mythology. They are taken from the Indian epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata.The actors use these masks to depict the characters they are playing.
Clay, straw and bamboo are used to make these masks both big and small.
43 people like this
42 responses
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
2 Feb 19
The mythology is stories from our epics the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
6 people like this
@DianneN (246819)
• United States
2 Feb 19
@responsiveme Thank you. That's very interesting to me. I studied classical mythology in college and loved it.
4 people like this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
2 Feb 19
Thanks @DianneN. ,I edited the post to specify the mythology
4 people like this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
2 Feb 19
A part of our culture...No e to enjoy the festivities
2 people like this
@toniganzon (72285)
• Philippines
2 Feb 19
It's an interesting part of your culture.
2 people like this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
2 Feb 19
Yes, that's the diversity..The old and the new exist here side by side
1 person likes this
@sofssu (23662)
•
4 Feb 19
@responsiveme So much fun to tear those holes for eyes and add a elastic band to it, 
2 people like this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
4 Feb 19
Remember we used to get paper masks as kids
2 people like this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
2 Feb 19
Efforts are on to preserve these traditions
3 people like this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
2 Feb 19
With bamboo they are not so heavy. The drones are heavier
1 person likes this
@Sreekala (34312)
• India
2 Feb 19
@responsiveme Not only Kathakali, but theyyam, koodiyattam, ottanthullal etc.
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
2 Feb 19
@Sreekala yes, we should know more about all these
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
29 May 19
@responsiveme Oh, I see. So they are statues. 
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
26 May 19
These are actually statues .For the dance performance the masks will be adjusted,I guess
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
15 Oct 19
I just notice you are not around for long times..I hope you are fine ARM.
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
15 Oct 19
@responsiveme Welcome
Yes okay thanks
Yes okay thanks1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
15 Oct 19
Thanks,I am.Gosh so glad that I am missed. Hope you are doing fine too.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (458091)
• Switzerland
2 Feb 19
@responsiveme The Carnival of Venice is very nice, they have beautiful costumes and masks.
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
2 Feb 19
Yes,have seen those masks and the carnival.parades on tv
2 people like this
@MarshaMusselman (38657)
• Midland, Michigan
14 Feb 19
It looks like it's not only the masks that they are covered with as their hands also look to be in plastic or whatever material is used for these drama things. At first I thought they were both women, but now I'm not so sure. Because their legs are hidden it makes them look like their torso's are a lot longer than the rest of their bodies.
Are children there taught these stories from your mythology so that most everyone understands the ideas being portrayed here?
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38657)
• Midland, Michigan
14 Feb 19
@responsiveme Thanks for explaining, I thought this was one of the dramas that you watch yearly.
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
14 Feb 19
The pictures in this posts are not real people. They are statues , in our airport.
The dramas are with real.people though. Yes we grow up with listening to these mythological stories so I do think people get to understand.
But now that you mention it ,I wonder if today's kids do get to listen to these from their grandmas
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
15 Feb 19
@MarshaMusselman the drama post was on travelling theatres which I enjoy.
1 person likes this
@ShifaLk (17817)
• India
5 Mar 19
@responsiveme wow.. which festival is it mainly
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
18 Feb 19
@dya80dya okay, that interpretation has its points
1 person likes this
@dya80dya (33512)
•
18 Feb 19
@responsiveme I don't like any masks. I think that many people wear masks. They don't show their true self.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (85305)
• Bangalore, India
13 May 19
Despite of being an Indian, such information surprise me. There is so much about my own country which I am unaware of. And the diversity of our culture is really mesmerizing.
I guess you are from Assam.. I am making a wild guess as you have mentioned Brahmaputra..
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (85305)
• Bangalore, India
14 May 19
@responsiveme Thanks for sharing a glimpse of your culture.
1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
27 Mar 19
yikes. sorry but that /those are scary masks 
i kind of prefer mardi grau masks like they have here during mardi grau. 
i kind of prefer mardi grau masks like they have here during mardi grau. 1 person likes this
@rebelann (111177)
• El Paso, Texas
4 Mar 19
I hope so @responsiveme it can't be easy wearing a heavy mask.
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
4 Mar 19
Clay will make it heavy but bamboo is light.
These are depictions of the masks on statues...The real life ones will have lighter ones ,I guess
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
29 Mar 19
These are very nice masks. I had never seen any like these ARM.
1 person likes this
@jobelbojel (34729)
• Philippines
2 Feb 19
Those masks are pretty inviting. I bet it is been a winderful festival.
1 person likes this
@just4him (306239)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
3 Feb 19
@responsiveme They look like they are.
1 person likes this
