Site Name: Bhubaneswar
Date: 1990-1999
Subject: Ravana Mukha Mask. This is a Ravana mask made of papier-mâché. Ravana is described in the Hindu epic Ramayana as the great king of Lanka. He famously fought and ultimately lost a series of epic battles against the hero Rama, seventh avatar of Vishnu. Papier-mâché is a French word for chewed paper. The craft is said to have been introduced during the Mughal reign. The surface of papier-mâché produces an ideal ground for painting, which is probably the reason the craft became popular in Odisha with its traditional pattachitra painters. This art in Odisha uses a fusion of paper, cloth rags and straw. It is pulped by hand after softening with water. Additives like multani mitti are added to the pulp as an adhesive and for providing a textured finish. Masks of many shapes, forms and sizes are a part of Odisha’s culture. This object has been procured by State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC) Show House.