Himalayan Masks: Indigenous Culture Of India

Masks are one of the symbols that better represent the culture and traditions of people living in the Himalayan region. The ritual of wearing masks is very old and it comes from animists Himalayan tribes who worship the spirits of nature and guardians of these majestic mountains. These tribes wear masks to perform rituals to protect the village, heal diseases, practice exorcisms or many other purposes. Masks supposedly have essential functions in the social life of these communities as they also use them during theatrical representations and ceremonies dedicated to ancestors. Hindu and Buddhist cultures that became dominant in the surrounding regions slowly replaced the myths of this tribal cult. However, some of the old costumes survived.