mask

1916.9.217

Name and identification of character
A soldier/warrior, hevaya (or hevarala or heva kolam) (Sin.).

Context
This character appears with a group of soldiers in the first stage of the Kolam performance, in the dance of the warriors, heva kolam (Sin.). The soldiers enter the place of performance in order to uphold law and order. Their duty is to maintain discipline prior to the arrival of the royal party (vide Preface).

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

Iconography
The face is painted in a combination of colours like pink and yellow. It has a large mouth with thick gums painted in red. The whiskers drawn around the mouth resemble those of an animal like the tiger or the bear. The eyes are sunken. The essential features; the leeches, sword cuts and gashes, are carved and painted. The nose displays a deep sword cut in the shape of a ridge. Leeches are carved all over the face, some are stuck on swellings on the cheeks. Others take a decorative shape. Over the eyebrows are two leeches retaining the same shape as the brows. The mouth is broad and the teeth are in disproportionate shape.

2000 06 03
Dr. M. H. Goonatilleka