Shiv Parvathy Cheriyal Mask – Hand-painted Folk Art

Shiva and Parvati appear frequently across Cheriyal's traditional mould set, made by Nakashi artisans in Cheriyal village near Warangal in Telangana as part of a mask-making craft close to 400 years old. In this set, the two are rendered as a pair of individual masks, each built and painted separately, meant to be hung together as the divine couple rather than merged into one composite face.

Shiva's mask carries the expected iconography — a crescent moon in the crown, a third eye, a steady, meditative expression — while Parvati's is worked with softer contouring, floral ornamentation, and a nose ring, each face finished with its own confident black outlining. Both are hand-built the traditional way, from tamarind seed paste and sawdust over a wooden core, dried across several days, coated in white lime, then hand-painted using natural pigments. This craft earned a Geographical Indication tag in 2010, and continues today through only a small number of practising Nakashi families.

As a representation of the ideal divine partnership, this set is a natural choice for a wedding or anniversary gift, and equally suits a home that wants a significant Shaivite piece anchoring a gallery wall or entryway.

Material: Tamarind seed powder, sawdust, cotton cloth, natural colours

Dimensions: 5.5 inches x 9 inches x 3 inches (each mask)