Ardhanarinareshwar Cherial Mask

Lord Ganesha - the elephant-headed God- symbolizes wisdom. Lord Ganesha is the first to be worshiped before every important ritual in the Hindu community. Whether it is a wedding or a house warming, he is the first to be honored during every important ceremony.

This mask is finely painted with a yellow mukut, a tilak and a symbol “Om” which is a mantra that stands for high spiritual and positive vibrations. This Ganesha mask is generally placed on a wall facing the north direction and is considered a bringer of luck and prosperity into one’s home.

This mask is one of the Cherial masks which are a modified version of the Nakashi art, distinctive to the Cheriyal village, of Warangal district in Telangana. Wandering storytellers used painted Cheriyal masks to build intrigue for the gathered crowd in any festival to tell religious stories and folklore. The artistic tradition of making masks, handed down from generations is now a boon to the craftsmen in this Cheriyal village.

These masks are painstakingly wrought using a light wood base, tamarind seeds and sawdust.