Sri Lankan Traditional Masks Leave a comment
Traditional masks in Sri Lanka are more than just decorative accents for homes. They still play an important role in local ceremonies and performances. Tovil masks are the masks used at so-called devil dances. The dancer must assume the role of the demon and interact freely with the exorcist during a tovil rite. So many of the masks used in these ceremonies are only partially cut, and therefore do not completely cover the head and face. They are compact and simple to communicate.
Sanni masks are a subset of tovil masks that are very specialized. Many Sri Lankans think that illnesses are the consequence of demonic activity, and the sanni masks depict the 18 demons that are thought to be responsible for illnesses. The following conditions are included in the list of 18 diseases: delirium, abdominal pain, blindness, deafness, lameness, insomnia, paralysis, cold shivers, stomach sickness, fainting, and high fever.
18 sanni masks
The sanni masks depict both the character’s wicked characteristics and the disease’s symptoms on the one hand. For instance, the demon responsible for high fever is represented with red eyes and a flushed face in the mask of stupidity. The Maha Kola Sanni Yaka, the head of the sanni demons, is represented with a fascinating traditional masks that is utilized throughout the sanni ceremony. The sanni demons are all seen at once in this traditional masks.
Kolams are another kind of traditional masks used in rural theater productions. Nowadays, on ceremonial occasions, kolam dances are performed for entertainment and fun. In this performance, every character wears a mask. There are over 40 kolam masks, which represent villagers, animals, and monarchy.
Typically, Traditional masks are fashioned of strong, lightweight indigenous wood. The wood is left on the kitchen shelf to dry once it has been hollowed within. The better, the longer it stays there The wood is believed to endure 150 years if it is stored on a shelf for six months.
