Explore Charida - The Mask Making Village of West Bengal

Charida village is synonymous with the phrase “Mask making village of Bengal” and this village also has the distinction of being the only place in the world where the popular masks are being manufactured for an acrobatic martial art based dance “Chhau”. In this particular dance form a specific ornament i.e the masks are being used to perform this special dance form.

This unexplored village is situated in a corner of the culturally rich Purulia district and this amazing village is a home of 300 skilled mask makers. These mask makers are the ones who craft ornaments for Chhau which is a famous dance form of the region. Charida –the mask making village of West Bengal welcomes the tourists with a little different way as hundreds of shops dotting the street with glances of angry demon faces greets you. This very sight is quite unique and will definitely give you an insight about this culturally rich village of Bengal. In case you’re looking for a less visited, peaceful and place with rural touch then it is one of the best places to visit in West Bengal.

Know More about the Tradition which Locals of Charida Follows

It is believed that this tradition started during the era of King Madan Mohan Singh Deo of Baghmundi and it said that the vibrant masks used to light up the spirits and morale of the locals of the region. Almost 99% of the families of Charida village are into mask making. Moreover, it is the only place in the entire state where these masks are manufactured and these traditional masks are made with reference to the characters from famous epic stories. Usually one can witness the masks of Ganpati, Rama, ravana, Shiva and Durga at this mask making village of Bengal. Apart from these masks aadivasi masks or santhal masks are also the ones in high demand by the tourists; these masks depict married couple sporting traditional tribal make up and hairdo and the inspiration for these masks are taken from Kirat-Kiratin avatar of Shiva and Durga.

More about Masks & How they are made

These traditional masks not just depict mythological characters only but the designs of these masks have evolved over the span of time. The masks now made depict epic characters like Ravana, Ram, Hanuman and animal and bird heads too. In the animal section of masks one can witness masks of peacock, monkey, tiger and lion etc. As per the locals, tourists visiting the village now look for varieties and hence the locals have now started to experiment in terms of designs and varieties.

The range of shapes and sizes has gone through remarkable change through time. Some masks are of the size of a big torso and some even fits in the palm. The Chhau art form of Charida village of Bengal dates back to 150 years and now the name of this famous mask making village has become global. Popular craftsmen now even travel to international destinations to make the foreign people aware about the art of making masks.

Best Time to Visit Charida – The Mask Making Village of West Bengal

The best time to explore this unique yet interesting village Charida is during the famous artists’ annual village festival. This festival is held in the month of December every year and it welcomes numerous art lovers. Tourists planning to attend this festival can also plan their stay at the nearby Gandhi Ashram at Nimdih from Charida. The added attraction of this village is the spectacular views of PPSP Dam and Ayodhya Hills.

How to Reach: Charida –The mask making village of West Bengal is nestled 36 kilometers away from Barabhum station and it is also the nearest station to the village. It is almost 6 hours drive from Kolkata city.

Village of West Bengal which deserves a Visit

It is one of the best places in West Bengal for the ones searching for something unique & has keen interest in history and art forms. So, whenever you plan a visit to Purulia don’t forget to explore this village. You can bring these beautiful masks to your home and can use them as wall decoration and it is also a very nice gifting option. This will not just give your home a perfect art décor but it will at the same time encourage the artisans of Charida.