mask

1916.9.273

Name and identification of character
A gara mask of the smaller type, kila gara (Sin.).

Context
A demon character in the demon dance in Kolam, Gara Nätuma (Sin.), in the demon ceremony Gara Yakuma (vide Preface), and in the finale of the god-rituals called Devolmaduva and Gammaduva.

Material
Wood, vel-kaduru (Sin.) (Nux vomica).

Iconography
The head-dress is composed of only one cobra-hood. On the two sides of the hood are two wooden planks. These are carved in the shape of wings in three layers, adorned with petal designs, pala-peti (Sin.), painted in red, yellow and black. As usual, the centre cobra-hood rises from the bridge of the nose, which has a sacred spot, a tilaka (Sin.). The nose is broad and coloured in green. Goggle eyes. Decorated eyebrows. Padded gums painted in dark red. The lower jaw is movable. Projecting eye-teeth. The ear-discs are missing (which is the case also in the Umlauff Catalogue).

2000 07 26
Dr. M. H. Goonatilleka