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| Sunday, 5 June 2005 |
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Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Masks of Sri Lanka
You may have seen children going around wearing masks of various shapes and colours this Vesak season. You may have had the chance to see more colourful and elaborate masks at thovil performances, worn by dancers swaying their arms and legs to the frantic beat of drums. Whether simple or ornate, masks are an integral part of our culture and traditions. Traditional Sri Lankan masks can be broadly categorised into two sectors - kolam and devil dancing masks. The later comprises the thovil and sanni masks. Kolam masks usually have a theatrical role. The very word 'kolam' suggests comic relief, and it is a depiction of various episodes that people come across. In kolam dramas, all the characters wear masks which are caricatures of the nature and conduct of the persons depicted. For example, a typical kolam performance could have the following characters; village headman, money lender, king, queen, ministers, policemen and laundrymen. There are kolam masks depicting snakes and other animals too. 'Sanni' literally means disease and these masks are generally worn by exorcists (Kattadiyas) to ward off evil spirits affecting the sick person (athuraya). These demonic masks are meant to drive fear into the sick person and the spirits lurking within him or her. For example, the 'maru sanniya' mask has a crown of tiers symbolising flames, huge nostrils, two bulging eyes with red eyeballs and a mouth, oozing blood. There are 18 sannis and 18 masks for these various diseases. On rare occasions, when all these 18 sanni mask dances are performed on one stage, it is called a 'Daha Ata Sanniya'.
Traditional masks come in various shapes, sizes and colours. The most common type of wood that is used to make masks is kaduru while ruk attana, erabadu and sandalwood have also been used at various times. The wood is first smoke-dried, then carved. Traditional vegetable extracts were used in the past to paint these masks,but now, more and more foreign paint brands are used. This is a painstaking process which has been handed down from generation to generation. The most famous mask-making families are in Ambalangoda on the Southern Coast, where you will also find several mask museums. There is also a good collection of masks at the National Museum in Colombo. Carefully made masks last a lifetime and more. A mask made using pure, natural ingredients by experts (several people may be involved in the making of each mask) can last for around 200 years. It is essential that masks are well-made as they are an art form which is used in the day-to-day lives.
Some experts fear that the cultural traditions associated with masks are slowly disappearing. Many young people in traditional mask-making families have taken up other jobs, and fewer still are taking to masked dances. Some are also worried that an influx of cheap masks made for the tourist market could be unhealthy for the mask industry, as these do not always conform to the traditional norms of mask-making. Although masks are generally found and used throughout Asia, many of
the masks we see here in Sri Lanka are unique to our country. They are
fascinating cultural icons and art forms. Combined with the age-old dances
and rituals, masks assume a cultural identity of their own that should be
preserved for the benefit of future generations. |
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| Politics | Produced by Lake House |
Besides being used for devil dancing ceremonies, thovil masks are also
used in processions (peraheras). They also come in nearly 25 varieties.
There are many superstitions surrounding masks. They are usually affixed
to houses under construction, as owners believe that they could distract
the attention of passers-by, from the house itself and dispel jealousy and
the evil -eye. Some people are averse to keeping masks inside their houses
as they believe these could bring 'bad luck'. 
Although masks are displayed in museums and private homes, many more
are worn at occasions like dances. So, they should be able to withstand
the vagaries of the weather, transport and storage. 
