Paper Short Abstract:

Mukha shilpa is a famous cultural heritage in Assam, India. This tradition, deeply embedded in Vaishnavite culture, combines art, spirituality, and performance. The process of making masks involves shaping, painting and texturing which improve tactile and visual experiences for artisans. Additionally, the vivid colours and patterns on the masks appeal to the visual senses, establishing a link between the artists and the themes they depict. This paper aims to analyze the multisensory aspects of mask-making in Assam, including tactile, visual, and auditory dimensions, and their impact on performers and audiences.

Paper Abstract:

Mask is known as a remarkable cultural heritage worldwide. It has been used both in ceremonial as well as practical purposes. Assam, a state in Northeastern part of India, is popular for mask culture. It is locally known as mukha shilpa and has recently received GI tag. The masks and masking tradition or mukha shilpa of Assam, deeply embedded in the Vaishnavite culture initiated by Srimanta Sankardeva, represent a vibrant convergence of art, spirituality, and performance. A mask is made of bamboo, cane, cloth and clay. The making process involves shaping, painting and texturing which enhance tactile and visual experiences for artisans. The vibrant colour and designs on masks also engage visual senses which create the connection between the artists and the themes they represent. While these masks are celebrated for their intricate craftsmanship and symbolic representations in the Bhaona (theatrical performances), their sensory and experiential dimensions remain underexplored in academic discourse.

With the help of anthropological knowledge and methods, this paper will try to analyze the multisensory aspects of mask-making, including the tactile, visual, and auditory dimensions of the process in Assam. It will also try to find out the experiential impact of masks on performers and audiences during Bhaona and other rituals through this paper.