NAKTA, a wooden mask collected from the community of Muria of Chhattishgarh was displayed under the latest and popular online series of Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya (IGRMS) entitled ‘Exhibit of the Week’ on Monday. This is the 51st exhibition under the Exhibit of the Week displayed in the audience through official website, Facebook, Instagram and twitter page of the IGRMS. In this regard Dr Praveen Kumar Mishra, Director of IGRMS, said that this series will focus on the masterpieces from its collection which are considered as unique for their contribution to the cultural history of a particular ethnic group or area. Nakta is a wooden mask used among the Muria community of Chhattisgarh.

 

It is a lightweight mask worn by Muria jester during dance performance in many occasions and especially on Chherta festival. In this festival a group of young men visit every house in the village and ask for Chherta in the form of rice and other food items. A young man from the group entertains the villagers as a jester wearing a mask and holding a stick in his hand. The grains collected during Chherta is served in a mass feast. The NAKTA mask worn by the jester is represented by beard along with silver ear rings and metal teeth makes it more appealing.