The mask culture – India

There is a strong belief in masks belonging to souls of ancestors amongst rural population. Mask dancers, who propitiate the spirit and in a state of trance give manifold blessings to the gathered devotees, both heal the sick and entertain spectators. Masks of Siva and Durga (and her manifest form of Shakti) are powerful iconic masks in India. In modern India, mask dances at theatrical and ritualistic levels are thriving well.