What do the wooden masks in Sri Lankan dancing mean.

The vibrant wooden masks used in Low Country devil dances, known as Sanni Yakuma, represent various disease causing demons. The traditional shamans wear these terrifying masks to personify the specific illness, dancing intensely to appease the spirit and banish the sickness from the afflicted patient. The famous Raksha masks, featuring bulging eyes and cobras, are used specifically to drive away general evil and bad luck.