INDIA, Himachal Pradesh - Lot 3

INDIA, Himachal Pradesh Carved wooden Phagli mask depicting the face of Hanuman, with upturned lips, a slightly parted jaw, round eyes, and wearing a tiara. (Bronze clasps). H. 30 cm The Phagli festival is a traditional Himalayan celebration, observed particularly in several regions of Himachal Pradesh, such as Kinnaur, the Kullu Valley, and certain rural areas of Shimla and Mandi. It marks the transition from winter to spring and the beginning of the agricultural season. The festival features dances, songs, processions, theatrical performances, and rituals designed to ward off evil spirits, protect the harvests, and promote the community’s prosperity. Participants often wear very colorful and expressive costumes and masks, representing deities, spirits, animal figures, or ancestral characters. The mask has a strong symbolic and ritual dimension: the wearer temporarily embodies another power, thereby creating a link between the human world and the world of supernatural forces. Through these practices, Phagli also helps preserve the legends, traditions, music, and cultural identity unique to the various Himalayan communities.

Estimate:$560.23

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