Chhau is an old martial/ritual theatre-dance form of eastern India. Chhau Mask–making evolved alongside the Chhau dance tradition of Purulia, where masks became essential for portraying deities, demons, and folk characters. The craft developed over 150–200 years, shaped by rural storytelling and ritual performance traditions. Artisans used clay, paper-mâché, cloth, and natural glue to create expressive, dramatic facial features. Craft knowledge passed through hereditary families known as Sutradhars.