Animal Ball 2023; King Charles and Queen Camilla wears Sabyasachi elephant masks which paid homage to Bengal's heritage; See story
While all the global attention was triggered with Elephant Ball 2023 organized on June 29, 2023 by the Royal Family of London, it was also a list Indian designers who shone their art-manship on the event. Renown Indian designer Sabyasachi stole the extravaganza event of conservational charity with his intricate elephant masks which were worn by none other than the royal majesties themselves, King Charles and Queen Camilla.
The Shola elephant masks
King Charles III and Queen Camilla has organized the charity event in London on June 29, 2023. Reportedly it was the 20th edition of the respective ball. Sabyasachi Mukherjee has taken over his Instagram handle on Friday afternoon and announced the regal achievement of weaving the specially designed white 'Shola' elephant masks for the majesties. For the kindest information, Mr. Mukherjee's Shola Masks paid homage to Bengal's living heritage and culture. The reason is discussed vividly below in the story!
The reason of Shola's exclusivity
While sharing the news to the Indians, he also took out time to explain the exclusivity and importance of the masks. He wrote, "The Shola Masks have been made by hand using age-old artisanal techniques and materials as a collaboration between the artists from the Sabyasachi Art Foundation and the master craftspeople of Bengal." Along with continuity on it's intricacy, he also educated the masses with what 'Shola' is. "Shola is the craft of carving sholapith, the spongey cork from the aquatic plant that grows in the marshlands of Bengal. Every year the craftspeople make decorations for the deities and entire structures during the Durga Puja Celebrations" He further added.
Other Indian Designers
It was not just Sabyasachi from the Indian mainland, but the charity was added more beauty by masks designed by Indian ace designers such as Manish Malhotra and Anita Dongre. Mr. Malhotra designed the unreal 'Maharaja Mask' that symbolized the lion which Janhvi Kapoor aced with grace and Anita on the other hand created the 'Panchhi Mask' for the ball which symbolized the birds epitome of the tropical lands.
- PTC PUNJABI