Mask of the goddess Durga: brass-colored metal; large halo- or aureole-like aura of same material riveted to mask; holes for eyes, nostrils; halo has 4 peacocks, much openwork on metal; serrated outer rim; length 56 cm; width 50 cm. For use in Ram Lila festival cycle performances? Durga is the threatening aspect of Devi, the "great goddess"' N. Hirschmann believes this mask represents Sita, because it is from the Ram Lila.
Collection place:
Uttar Pradesh, India
Culture or time period:
Indian
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Masks (costume)
Function:
5.3 Objects relating to the Secular and Quasi-religious Rites, Pageants, and Drama
Department:
Asia (except western Russia)
Loans:
S1977-1978 #35: El Camino College (February 10, 1978–June 27, 1978), S1979-1980 #12: Associated Student Body (UC Berkeley) (September 25, 1979–January 22, 1980), S1980-1981 #38: University of California, Berkeley (January 13, 1981–March 6, 1981), S1992-1993 #16: Cole and Weber (October 12, 1992–October 13, 1992), and S1993-1994 #1: Heffernan Films (August 12, 1993–August 12, 1993)