Hanuman Cheriyal Mask

This decorative mask depicts Hanuman, who is a popular deity who is worshipped all over India. This mask would have been a part of a set employed in the narration of myths and legends by the Yadavs or Dhangars, a community which is generally pastoral. These itinerant performers traveled from village to village, providing a welcome storytelling break for farmers. Their performances allowed marginalized castes to hear tales of the gods. They commissioned painted cloth panels, models, and masks from Cheriyal scroll painters to aid their storytelling.

Cheriyal masks, typically made from Ankudu wood and sawdust, undergo an intricate crafting process. The wood is shaped, smoothed, and treated with khadi cotton mixed with rice starch, white mud, tamarind seed paste, and gum water. Artists then sketch and paint using natural dyes. After drying, a lacquer layer is applied for a glossy finish and paint protection