Mahishbathan, Mukhos gram

Vivekananda Sarkar

Mahishbathan is a village located in South Dinajpur district of West Bengal. The village is home to artisans who have been making ceremonial masks that resemble many Hindu mythological figures such as Hanuman, Chamunda, Nara Raksash, Masan, Chamkali etc. simply out of wood following a tradition more than 500 years old.The logs of wood for this purpose are often obtained from Gamari, Mehagani, Shegun, Mango trees. The logs are then sawed, chiseled, drilled and meticulously etched to produce the masks whose appeal has transcended geographical and cultural boundaries. In the village these masks are used by the villagers to perform segments of Gamira (Gambhira) , a native dance form. These aesthetically pleasing masks are gradually catching on with the masses as household fixtures owing to their ability to add drama to an otherwise dull interior space. Each year Mahishbathan Samabay Samiti organizes a fair for the masks. In these fairs masks are put on exhibition. and various local dance forms that involve the masks as props are performed alongside. Processions led by people masquerading their faces with the masks are held during these fairs. Mahishbathan because of its heritage and culture is rapidly turning into a tourist spot. How to reach this newfound tourist destination? Buses, cars and other smaller vehicles regularly ply between Mahishbathan and Malda via Raiganj. From malda the time taken to reach Mahishbathan by bus is approximately 2hrs and from Raiganj it is even less. There are arrangements for tourists who would want to stay over at night.

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