For the past 15 days, rare and evocative scenes have unfolded at North Kamalabari Satra in Majuli. Under the shade of trees on the banks of the Brahmaputra, students of the National School of Drama (NSD), Tripura, have been learning Assam’s centuries-old mask-making tradition. Young theatre practitioners from Punjab, Delhi, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Tripura immersed themselves in this traditional art form under the guidance of Padma Shri awardee and master artisan Hem Chandra Goswami.
Using bamboo, cane, clay and other natural materials, the students crafted masks deeply rooted in Assam’s rich cultural heritage. Held in the serene and spiritual setting of the satra, the workshop vividly brought the age-old guru–shishya tradition to life. In an open-air classroom created under the trees, students made masks of mythological gods and demons—an essential element of Assam’s Bhaona tradition. Speaking on the concluding day of the workshop on Wednesday, Goswami said the experience once again highlighted the national relevance of Assam’s traditional art forms.
“The workshop continued for 15 days, and it has been a wonderful experience. NSD students from different states came here to learn the mask-making tradition. Theatre requires masks, which is why they are learning this process,” he said.
He added that the art form, introduced by Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva, has long been moving towards global recognition. “Today is the concluding day, and all the masks will come to life today,” Goswami said. Emphasising the sustainability of the tradition, Goswami pointed out that Assam’s masks stand apart for their eco-friendly nature. “Many states have their own mask traditions, but Assam’s masks are unique. They are made from bamboo, cane, clay and cow dung. This pollution-free tradition is over 500 years old,” he said.
For the students, the workshop offered much more than technical training. A student from Punjab said the atmosphere of the satra had a deep impact on their creative process. “It felt really special. The energy here helps us work better. We never imagined we would be making masks one day. We feel blessed to learn from such gurus. We will take these masks back with us—shaped and touched by the hands of the satra’s masters,” the student said.
Another student from Delhi described the workshop as a matter of pride not only for Assam, but for the entire country. “This is something to be proud of—a 500-year-old tradition being preserved.