The use of ritual masks is an ancient tradition seen in many cultures and across civilizations, and was often used for worship or for theatre. Made of a various materials, including wood and tree bark, these masks depict human, animal or bird forms, or mythological heroes or creatures, including gods and goddesses. As a ritual of worship, the wearer of the mask invokes the spirits of the ancestors, animals, as well as totemistic concepts, to ensure the well-being of the tribe or the community. The present lot includes two Nepalese masks, which were likely hung outside houses as a protective talisman, and may also have been worn during Gai Jatra festivals. Also included are Fagli festival masks from the Kullu Valley in Himachal Pradesh, and two unusual masks possibly depicting Hanuman, identified by their crowned heads and elongated noses ending with an ovular mouth with bared teeth.