The hauntingly vibrant Gomira masked dance, a centuries-old folk tradition from North Dinajpur, West Bengal, took centre stage at the Victoria Memorial in Kolkata on Nov 25 as part of World Heritage Week celebrations.
Performed by members of the Rajbongshi and Polia communities, Gomira is a trance-induced ritual dance using elaborately carved wooden masks, believed to channel the essence of village deities.
Rooted in Tantric Buddhist, Shaivite, Shakta, and tribal traditions, the performance involves no dialogue or lyrics – only the intense rhythm of khol drums and kartal cymbals guiding dancers into spiritual possession or bhor.
The West Bengal government has recently stepped up efforts to revive Gomira through cultural tourism initiatives.
