The link below explains the importance of masks beautifully. It identifies that they are used – in India and elsewhere – for five main purposes: sacrificial, totemic, ritual, processional, theatrical.
The Moon mask shown here was a papier mache mask used in Ramlila at Ram Nagar. Indian dance-dramas featured masks as ways of showing mythical, super-human or demonic characters (funny how the superheroes wear masks…). Ramlila is the name given to local reenactments of the Hindu epic Ramayana – and looks like an amazing spectacle.
http://www.indiapicks.com/stamps/Culture/CMA_Masks_Main.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramlila
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