{"product_id":"jatayu-cheriyal-mask","title":"Jatayu Cheriyal Mask – Hand-painted Telangana Folk Art","description":"\u003cp\u003eJatayu appears in the Ramayana as the aged vulture-king who tries to stop Ravana from abducting Sita, fighting until his wings are cut and he falls, mortally wounded, only to hold on long enough to tell Rama which direction Ravana had flown. It's one of the epic's more quietly devastating episodes — an act of loyalty offered by a creature with no stake in the outcome beyond what's right — and it's this figure that this Cheriyal mask, made in the village of Cheriyal near Warangal in Telangana, depicts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe mask is built using the same roughly 400-year-old Nakashi technique behind every piece in this tradition: a wooden core shaped with tamarind seed paste and sawdust, dried over several days, sealed with white lime, then hand-painted with natural pigments, the bird's beak, feathering, and expression worked in by hand with a fine brush. This craft was awarded a Geographical Indication tag in 2010 and today survives through only a small number of practising families.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJatayu masks appear less often than the more commonly requested Rama, Sita, or Hanuman figures, making this a good choice for a serious collector of Ramayana-related folk art, or as a meaningful gift for someone who values the story's quieter, less-celebrated acts of courage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaterial:\u003c\/strong\u003e Tamarind seed powder, sawdust, cotton cloth, natural colours\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 5.5 inches x 9 inches x 3 inches\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho is Jatayu, for anyone unfamiliar with the story?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJatayu is the vulture-king from the Ramayana who dies attempting to rescue Sita from Ravana, and who delivers crucial information to Rama with his final breath.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this mask sold individually?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, it's a single, standalone piece.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is it made from?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTamarind seed powder and sawdust over a wooden core, finished with cotton cloth and natural colours.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow do I hang it?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA loop is fixed to the back for direct wall mounting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow should I care for it?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDust with a soft, dry cloth, and keep it away from water and direct sunlight.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this a good gift for a Ramayana enthusiast?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, given how specific and comparatively rare the subject is, it particularly suits someone with a genuine interest in the epic's characters.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0692\/0070\/7628\/files\/fac96ed4-Jatayu_Cheriyal-Mask_EthniiChic.jpg?v=1754362654\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"EthniiChic","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54363300299062,"sku":"EC-HD-WD-CM-0018","price":13.19,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0989\/4182\/9430\/files\/3c187fb7-Jatayu_Cheriyal-Mask_EthniiChic1.jpg?v=1785755831","url":"https:\/\/enclothin.com\/products\/jatayu-cheriyal-mask","provider":"enclothin","version":"1.0","type":"link"}