Object Name: Mask

Artist: Unknown

Cultural Group: Sinhala peoples

Place of Origin: Southern Province, Sri Lanka

Date/Era: Early 20th century

Dimensions: L: 43.00 cm, H: 25.00 cm

Medium/Materials: Wood, paint

Credit Line: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Anonymous Loan.

Accession Number: LX74.1a-c

Gara Raksha is distinguished by large ears in the form of a lotus, a grinning fanged mouth, and bulging eyes topped by three cobra heads. He plays a prominent role in certain exorcism (tovil) rites and also appears in popular drama (kolam), where he performs a demonic spirit dance.