THE MASK AND THE MIRROR

Ashok Kumar Sinha elaborates on masks and the art of becoming.

- Ashok Kumar Sinha

In India, the tradition of masks can be traced back to ancient times.

Masks were used for many reasons; sometimes to hide the face and identity, sometimes for religious and social rituals, and sometimes in dance and entertainment. In almost every part of the country, masks have been part of culture.

The exhibition “Spiritual Crossing: Masks as sacred symbols, ritual objects and theatrical journey”, which opened at the Bihar Museum, Patna on 7 August 2025, shows that masks are not only Indian but a worldwide tradition. In different countries, they are used for rituals, ceremonies, festivals and performances. Colourful, frightening, smiling, serious, or expressionless; each mask carries its own story. From the beginning, masks have fascinated and attracted people. They are not made only to hide the face. Some are meant to scare, some to drive away fear. Many represent gods, demons, or spirits. Some masks are made to connect with ancestors, as people believe masks allow them to enter the world of ancestors and feel free from fear.

It is difficult to say when and where masks first began. But history shows that the tradition of masks is very old and spread across the world. Indian mythology also has stories of gods and sages changing their faces and forms (like wearing masks). For example, in Kumārasambhava by Kalidasa, Lord Shiva appears as a young man to test Parvati. In the story of Nala and Damayanti, the gods Indra, Varuna, Agni and Yama take the form of Nala to confuse Damayanti. In the end, she recognises the real Nala through her devotion. Similarly, Ravana kidnapped Sita in the disguise of a sage. There are also stories of gods taking forms like Matsya (fish), Varaha (boar), Narasimha (man-lion) and Vamana (dwarf). All these are connected to the idea of masks.