In Assam, mask making an extensive process carried out by skilled craftsmen

From the archive record

Dhiren Goswami a craftsman from Assam says "Mask making is our tradition and we are trying to protect it by making the art of mask making as our livelihood. 10 people are working here with me and masking making has been profitable for us." The mask- making industry is a major means of livelihood for the rural population of Assam. These craftsmen do not belong to any specific caste group, rather are distributed throughout the state. The skill of making the masks is generally passed down either from one generation to the next or in a satra, under the guidance of a teacher. In Assam, mask making an extensive process, which involves splitting of bamboo strips to form the frame, pasting layers of clothes dipped in clay and finally drying them under the sun. The normal time required for completi