15th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
A traditional mask maker from the environmentally endangered world's biggest river island Majuli strikes a pose with a Hanuman mask

Natun Samaguri Satra is one of the many Hindu Vaishnavite monasteries dotting the bucolic landscape of Majuli, the rapidly shrinking river island on Brahmaputra river in the eastern Indian state of Assam.This particular monastery specialises in the art of making masks inspired from Indian epics used for religious festivals.Just like the island itself, this 350 year old art is under threat of disappearing and master craftsmen like this person are keeping it alive.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 03.2017
Date Uploaded: 11.2017
Photo Location: Majuli, India
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Copyright: © Pavel Chakraborty