Question 1

What is Kola Sanniya?

Accepted Answer

Kola Sanniya is one of the eighteen demon masks used in the Sanniya Yakuma, a traditional Sinhalese healing ritual. It is associated with illnesses believed to arise from shame, fear, or loneliness. The mask features a small cobra hood at the centre of the forehead and decorative thirigitala projections on either side.

Question 2

What is the Daha Ata Sanniya ceremony?

Accepted Answer

Daha Ata Sanniya, meaning the eighteen Sanniya, is a nocturnal exorcism ritual performed to cure illness attributed to demonic possession. Trained ritual specialists called adura wear each of the eighteen masks in turn, performing dramatic episodes to invoke and expel the relevant demon. The ceremony has been practised in Sri Lanka's low-country coastal communities for centuries.

Question 3

Where is the best place to see Sanniya masks in Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

Ambalangoda on the Southern Coast is the main centre for Sri Lankan mask traditions. The Ariyapala Mask Museum there displays a complete set of the eighteen Sanniya masks alongside other ritual and kolam masks. Several active workshops in the town allow visitors to observe carvers at work.

Question 4

What does the snake hood on the Kola Sanniya mask mean?

Accepted Answer

The cobra hood at the forehead of the Kola Sanniya mask represents a connection to serpent spirits and subterranean spiritual forces in Sri Lankan animist cosmology. The forehead is considered the seat of a demon's power, making the hood's central placement both symbolic and compositionally significant.

Question 5

What wood are Sanniya masks carved from?

Accepted Answer

Traditional Sanniya masks are carved from kaduru wood, derived from the Strychnos nux-vomica tree, which is prized for its lightness and ease of carving. The masks are painted and then lacquered to preserve the surface. High-quality ceremonial pieces can take a skilled carver several days to complete.

Question 6

How many demons are in the Sanniya set?

Accepted Answer

There are eighteen demons in the Sanniya set, each corresponding to a specific category of illness or affliction. They range from physical complaints such as fever and eye conditions to psychological states such as the fear and shame governed by Kola Sanniya. Each demon has its own distinct mask design.

Question 7

Is Kola Sanniya a mask you can buy in Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Kola Sanniya masks are available as decorative and collector pieces throughout Sri Lanka, most reliably in Ambalangoda. Quality varies between tourist-market items and pieces made by trained artisan carvers. For the most authentic work, visiting established workshops in Ambalangoda directly or commissioning from a master carver is recommended.

Kola Sanniya

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