1916.9.173
Name and identification of character
A forest-dwelling hunter called Vädda (Sin.), or a demon causing infectious diseases, called Vädi Sanniya (Sin.)(cf. Preface).
Context
The mask can be used in two contexts: In Kolam and in the Sanni ritual. Sanni masked dancers (who are also Kolam performers) sometimes wear identical masks to represent two or three characters.
Material
Wood, vel-kaduru (Sin.) (Nux vomica).
Iconography
The face is elongated and painted in bluish black. The mouth is angular in shape with lips painted in red. The nose is thin and pointed. The forehead is swollen, perhaps presenting some symptoms of the sickness (Sanni). There are no ears.
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Dr. M. H. Goonatilleka