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What were sickness demon masks used for in Sri Lanka?

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In Sri Lanka, sickness demon masks are used by the Sinhalese people as part of magico-religious rites intended to prevent and cure disease. These masks are central to tovil ceremonies, which are performed to heal individuals suffering from illnesses, dementia, or misfortune believed to be caused by malignant spirits.12

During these rituals, dancers don masks representing various demons to embody the specific spirit associated with a patient's malady. The masks are characterized by their ferocious, fanged, and fiendish appearance, often featuring articulating jaws and a dragonlike aesthetic. There are 19 distinct types of these masks, each linked to specific ailments.21

The performance serves to lure the demon into the arena, where the chief exorcist engages with the masked dancer—who represents the demon—through questioning, threats, and offerings until the spirit is appeased and leaves the patient's body, resulting in healing.2