Title
Gauri mask
Year/Period
19th century
Region
Maharashtra, India
Object Type
Material
Technique
Dimension
Object size: 40.0 x 25.0 x 14.0 cm
Accession No.
1995-00899
Collection of
This mask depicts the face of Gauri, another name for Hindu goddess Parvati. Gauri's headgear and ear ornaments clearly indicate that this piece represents the goddess in the Marathi style whose head or mask is decorated during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival.This festival is celebrated in the months of August-September for a period of ten days and women celebrate a fertility rite by installing images of Gauri on mounds of grain, which would be dressed up like a married woman and worshipped for a few days. Parvati is associated with fertility, prosperity and women worship her for longevity of their husbands.
