মাসান

Domain:Performing arts

State:

Description:

The video is a documentation on the Masan art of Bengal.The history of the Masan deities is linked to the spread of the ancient Bon religion of Tibet in North Bengal. These Tantrik Buddhist deities were considered to be neither gods or demons and they were meant to be worshipped in or near a crematorium. The early representations of the Masan deities were all rendered in silk paintings similar to the Tibetan thangkas or paintings on cloth. They were considered to be endowed with healing powers and the Masan paintings were dedicated to the treatment of certain diseases. As the influence of Tantrik Buddhism waned with the closing of the Silk Route in North Bengal, the remnants of this practice remained in the districts of Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling and Coochbehar. Nowadays the Masan deities are mostly made of cork even though they still maintain their bizarre and fearsome forms.