The traditional Majuli masks in Assam and Tripura Risa were given a Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Centre on March 4.
Majuli masks
- Majuli manuscript painting also got the GI label. Majuli, the largest river island in the world and the seat of Assam’s neo-Vaishnavite tradition, has been home to the art of mask-making since the 16th century.
- Today, many of its traditional practitioners are working to take the art out of their traditional place in sattras, or monasteries.
- The handmade masks are traditionally used to depict characters in bhaonas, or theatrical performances with devotional messages under the neo-Vaishnavite tradition, introduced by the 15th-16th century reformer saint Srimanta Sankardeva.
- The masks can depict gods, goddesses, demons, animals and birds — Ravana, Garuda, Narasimha, Hanuman, Varaha Surpanakha all feature among the masks.//
Tripura Risa
- A traditional tribal attire Tripura Risa has been awarded the GI tag recognition.
- The Killa Mahila Cluster of Gomati district promoted by Tripura Rural Livelihood Mission (TRLM) obtained the tag.
- Risa is a handwoven cloth used as a female upper garment, and also as headgear, a stole, or a present to express respect.
- As an upper garment, it is wrapped around the torso twice. Rignai is primarily worn as the lower garment and literally means ‘to wear’. It can be understood as an indigenous variety of the sari of mainland India.
