Gomira masks are slaying it on social media. Here’s why

Gomira, Bengal’s masked dance that was once considered an intensely local expression of faith, has been gaining popularity on social media, especially after the masks earned a GI tag in 2018. “The lens through which we see Gomira has changed in recent times,” says Atreyo Mukherjee, a brand professional who attended a photography tour earlier this month in Dakshin Dinajpur district, where the Rajbongshi and Polia communities have been celebrating this folk ritual for ages now. “Gomira masks are trending now because of their beauty and the striking colours,” adds Soumyasikha Manna, another photography enthusiast and a schoolteacher.

A visually magnetic subject
For photographers and visual storytellers, the explosive colours, ritual intensity, and raw physicality of the masks and the dance form are visually magnetic. “The vivid colour palette, rhythmic intensity, and dramatic choreography add to its scroll-stopping appeal,” says Atreyo. “As photographers, we try to present Gomira not just as a performance but as a living visual narrative,” adds Sayantan Dhar, a college student & photographer. For Runa Isabel Lindberg from Germany, who attended a workshop in Kushmandi, the experience moved her deeply. “These are not simply masks; they are living characters with their own personalities, mythologies, and ritual functions. I had a very strong sense of being in the presence of something truly meaningful,” she tells us.

‘GI tag attracts curiosity’
Sayan Bose, an IT analyst and photography enthusiast, credits official recognition for growing online visibility and engagement. “Once the wooden masks of Kushmandi received a GI tag from the government of India, the craft gained official recognition and cultural credibility. On social media, the phrase ‘GI-tagged heritage’ itself attracts curiosity and engagement.”

What’s the Gomira dance?
It’s a masked folk dance from Bengal’s Dakshin and Uttar Dinajpur districts that embodies the Rajbongshi and Polia communities’ devotion to Gram Chandi – a fierce deity akin to Kali. The performances, which celebrate the triumph of good over evil, marks the conclusion of Gajan festival.
Male performers don heavy, hand-carved wooden masks depicting Shiva–Parvati as Bura-Buri, tiger spirits, demonesses such as Dakini, and Narasingha avatars.
Gomira is not a structured dance form and doesn’t involve any dialogue, songs or chants; the rhythm is carried solely by the beats of the khol and small cymbals.

Folk masks trending online

• Purulia Chhau Masks, West Bengal: Dramatic oversized masks depicting mythic warriors and demons — popular in décor and performance photography.
• Theyyam Ritual Face Art, Kerala: Fiery colours and intricate designs inspiring festival styling and visual storytelling.
• Majuli Mukha Masks, Assam: Light bamboo-and-clay masks from Vaishnavite theatre traditions drawing craft tourism.
• Bhuta Masks, Karnataka: Spirit worship masks with striking features that attract filmmakers and photographers.

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