Garuda Mask

This is an original vegetable painted wooden Garuda mask from Odisha. Garuda is the vahana (vehicle) of Lord Vishnu. Garuda is generally known as a protector with power to swiftly go anywhere, ever watchful and an enemy of the serpent. He has the torso and limbs of a man but the talons, wings and beak of an eagle.
This Garuda mask has a magnificent hooked beak, delicate white dots for decoration under the eye, above the brow and at the hairline. In the centre of the forehead is a tilak, the symbol of Vishnu. The mask also has large carved red earrings and a crown. Small holes for the wearer to see through have been cleverly cut at the base of the eyes so they are barely noticeable. This is because the mask would have been used in performances of folk and classical theatre and dances of the epics. Odisha has a long history of mask making including patachitra styled masks locally known as Mukha. The history of folk theatre, also known as Jatra, has also been a dominant influence on this art.