Orissa
Wood, extensively polychromed
This delicately painted and realistic dancing mask depicts Sita the consort of Lord Rama. Sita wear large kundala earrings and various nose and hair ornaments. A prominent tilaka adorns her forehead. Elongated slits have been cut out under her piercing eyes to help the dancer navigate while wearing the mask. This mask would have been used during folk performances of the Ramalila in Orissa.
The Ramalila (folk re-enactment of the life of Rama) is a widespread type of popular performance. The genre encompasses various dramatic enactments of the story of Rama by non-professional actors, men playing women’s roles, common throughout north India, ranging in duration from ten to thirty-one nights, concluding on the autumn holiday of Dussehra. In Orissa in particular, Ramalila is performed during the two weeks following Rama’s birthday, Ramanavami, in March or April, a time that makes sense for an enactment that begins with Rama’s birthday, on Ramanavami. This timing also coincides with the agricultural cycle, making the performance a celebration of the spring harvest. Also it is pleasant at the beginning of intense summer heat for villagers to enjoy the cool night hours with performances, generally from midnight till dawn, while actors and audience are free to sleep in the daytime.
Mask Size (cms): 33.5(H) x 30(W) x 18(D), 39(H with stand)
Mask Size (inches): 13(H) x 12(W) x 7(D), 15.5(H with stand)
