Somana Kunitha or Soma kunitha - the 'Mask dance,' is a traditional folk art form from Southern Karnataka that serves as a kind of spirit worship. It conveys a profound message about the ancient village deities of Karnataka. Somas means Masks and Kunitha means dance. Somas are considered as the guardian angels or the body guards serving the feminine deity/ies of the villages. These entities are generally distinguished by two colours - the red one known as Kencha Raya and the yellow one known as Bootha Raya. Kenhcaraya serves as the divine protector of Lord Vishnu, and so, offerings of lamb and other animals are presented to pacify him. However, it is important to note that Booth Raya cannot be appeased through any form of slaughtering. The masks, which symbolize the protective angels, are crafted through a series of traditional procedures and then paraded in a procession. The two factions of celestial guardians also symbolize the devout followers of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. The colour of the mask also functions as a signifier of the deity's innate traits. A crimson mask represents a deity that is characterised by compassion, while a golden or ebony mask suggests the opposite. This particular soma is referred to as Kenchamma or Iranna. Another potential soma variant, known as Kariraya, may exist in a blue colour. Different regions exhibit unique variations of somas, commonly referred to as masks.
Somas exhibit a somber and intense manner when adorned with masks, resulting in a powerful and memorable experience that is the intended purpose of their construction. The Somana masks exhibit a wide range of features, including huge eyes, large ears, very wide nostrils, startling whiskers that evoke terror, thick lips, and protruding molar teeth. The individual wearing soma masks sees the ground solely through their nostrils and does vigorous movements.
The artists adorn their clothing with silver and brass anklets and breast bands. The dance is characterized by the dancers wearing elaborate masks embellished with various ornaments, as well as wristbands studded with large metallic bells that tinkle with each movement during the Somana dance. The ornate pendant, traditionally designated for the worship of the deity, is worn around the neck. The Soma grasps a sharp staff in its right hand, which is both supple and flexible, serving to bestow sanctity upon the Soma. The cane is named 'Nagabetha', which means 'snake cane' due to its characteristics of sparkling appearance, nimbleness, and sharpness that resemble a snake.
The distinguishing characteristic of Somana Kunita is the composition of the artists involved in this art form, namely the triangular base of the headdress. The triangular structure is referred to as "Banka," and it is constructed with cane sticks. The headgear or mask must possess proportions that are a minimum of three times larger than the size of the performer's head. This is derived from a unique botanical species known as 'Deva Bhoothale'. This particular tree exhibits exceptional growth, reaching significant heights and sizes. The ritual method necessitates the collection of a specific quantity of wood subsequent to the obligatory consecration. Subsequently, the wooden slice is subjected to a drying process as a component of wood treatment. The figure of Soma is intricately carved from the wood block. The facial features are precisely outlined and appropriately tinted in shades of red, yellow, and occasionally blue. Each facial feature is meticulously refined and polished to accurately capture the real appearance of Soma. Above the mask, there are two pegs on which a stick, approximately 3 feet in length, is horizontally attached for decoration. A semicircular frame is attached over the two ends of the stick. Colourful sarees and textile motifs can be displayed on the reverse of the mask. The sarees have a visually pleasing display of patterns, colours, pleats, fringes, and borders, which enhance the overall aesthetic appeal of the entire ensemble. The Soma's headdress is adorned with delightful and fragrant flowers.
Somana Kunitha is a ceremonial display that takes place during temple festivals, serving as a major celebration of the revered village deities that have been venerated by the local community for many generations. The village shrines in southern Karnataka, including Mandya, Hassan, Mysore, Tumkur, Chitradurga and Bengaluru, are the focal points of this distinctive art style, dedicated to the Mother Goddess. This art has been exclusively practiced by male members of the Besta, Kuruba, Okkaliga, and Lingayat communities for millennia. The masks typically come in a vivid red, a subtle yellow, or a pleasing blue. At the annual fairs and festivals, the artists are accompanied on stage by percussion and wind instruments. Somana Kunitha Jaatre, a celebration and worship of village deities and rituals, is predominantly observed after Yugadi and prior to the arrival of the monsoon. In certain regions, it commences following Shivaratri.
During ceremonial occasions, blood offerings are presented to the spirits. The masks are made from the wood of the (Pterocarpus Santalinus Linn) tree, also known as the 'Indian red tree'. Additional props consist of a cane or stick, along with peacock feathers. In addition, they adorn a little headpiece adorned with vibrant flowers, neem leaves, and bright fabric fragments. The Dollu, Tamte percussion instruments, the mouri, a wind pipe, and the sadde, a windpipe for shruti, provide the musical sounds. The dancer commences his performance within the sacred confines of the goddess temple and proceeds in a state of altered consciousness, vocalizing in adoration of the ethereal being. At times, individuals present the goddess with the blood of a fowl or chicken as a sacrificial offering.
Devotees typically offer a mixture of grated coconut, jaggery, banana, honey, and cardamom, which is then placed on a white cloth laid on the ground. The priest and the soma mask wearer engage in a fierce struggle on opposite side of the offering, vying to claim it for the deity. People enthusiastically participate in Somana Kunita, expressing devotion through the singing of songs that praise rural deities believed to protect the village and its residents from any negative outcomes. Somana Kunita is a revered religious event that is regularly featured in the annual festival held in the temples of local deities across southern Karnataka.
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