Festival Dancer. Bhutan--October 2014--The People, Places, Culture

One of many Dancers enacting a specific and historical ritualized story at local festivals that occur througout Bhutan several times a year. Schools are out, everyone dresses up, brings a picnic, and spends the entire day watching dancers, clowns and singers. All festivals have the same basic theme with very elaborate costumes and masks. This one was near Wangdi town.

Festival at Tamshing Monastery (1501) Bhutan--October 2014--The People, Places, Culture

Music for the festival at Festival at Tamshing Monastery (1501) Bhutan. Festivals are enacting a specific and historical ritualized story at local festivals that occur througout Bhutan several times a year. Schools are out, everyone dresses up, brings a picnic, and spends the entire day watching dancers, clowns and singers. All festivals have the same basic theme with very elaborate costumes and masks. This was a small festival and we were able to go into the back room where the dancers came and went and put on costumes. Small children and families milled about and the children played with the costumes.

Festival at Tamshing Monastery (1501) Bhutan--October 2014--The People, Places, Culture

Festival at Tamshing Monastery (1501) Bhutan. Young monk watching. Festivals are enacting a specific and historical ritualized story at local festivals that occur througout Bhutan several times a year. Schools are out, everyone dresses up, brings a picnic, and spends the entire day watching dancers, clowns and singers. All festivals have the same basic theme with very elaborate costumes and masks. This was a small festival and we were able to go into the back room where the dancers came and went and put on costumes. Small children and families milled about and the children played with the costumes.

Festival at Tamshing Monastery (1501) Bhutan--October 2014--The People, Places, Culture

Festival at Tamshing Monastery (1501) Bhutan. Young monk watching--it is not an easy life. Festivals are enacting a specific and historical ritualized story at local festivals that occur througout Bhutan several times a year. Schools are out, everyone dresses up, brings a picnic, and spends the entire day watching dancers, clowns and singers. All festivals have the same basic theme with very elaborate costumes and masks. This was a small festival and we were able to go into the back room where the dancers came and went and put on costumes. Small children and families milled about and the children played with the costumes.

Festival at Tamshing Monastery (1501) Bhutan--October 2014--The People, Places, Culture

Festival at Tamshing Monastery (1501) Bhutan. Death mask. Festivals are enacting a specific and historical ritualized story at local festivals that occur througout Bhutan several times a year. Schools are out, everyone dresses up, brings a picnic, and spends the entire day watching dancers, clowns and singers. All festivals have the same basic theme with very elaborate costumes and masks. This was a small festival and we were able to go into the back room where the dancers came and went and put on costumes. Small children and families milled about and the children played with the costumes.

Festival at Tamshing Monastery (1501) Bhutan--October 2014--The People, Places, Culture

Festival at Tamshing Monastery (1501) Bhutan. Villagers watching. Festivals are enacting a specific and historical ritualized story at local festivals that occur througout Bhutan several times a year. Schools are out, everyone dresses up, brings a picnic, and spends the entire day watching dancers, clowns and singers. All festivals have the same basic theme with very elaborate costumes and masks. This was a small festival and we were able to go into the back room where the dancers came and went and put on costumes. Small children and families milled about and the children played with the costumes.

Festival at Tamshing Monastery (1501) Bhutan--October 2014--The People, Places, Culture

Festival at Tamshing Monastery (1501) Bhutan. Festivals are enacting a specific and historical ritualized story at local festivals that occur througout Bhutan several times a year. Schools are out, everyone dresses up, brings a picnic, and spends the entire day watching dancers, clowns and singers. All festivals have the same basic theme with very elaborate costumes and masks. This was a small festival and we were able to go into the back room where the dancers came and went and put on costumes. Small children and families milled about and the children played with the costumes.

Festival at Tamshing Monastery (1501) Bhutan--October 2014--The People, Places, Culture

Festival at Tamshing Monastery (1501) Bhutan. Festivals are enacting a specific and historical ritualized story at local festivals that occur througout Bhutan several times a year. Schools are out, everyone dresses up, brings a picnic, and spends the entire day watching dancers, clowns and singers. All festivals have the same basic theme with very elaborate costumes and masks. This was a small festival and we were able to go into the back room where the dancers came and went and put on costumes. Small children and families milled about and the children played with the costumes.

Festival at Tamshing Monastery (1501) Bhutan--October 2014--The People, Places, Culture

Festival at Tamshing Monastery (1501) Bhutan. Festivals are enacting a specific and historical ritualized story at local festivals that occur througout Bhutan several times a year. Schools are out, everyone dresses up, brings a picnic, and spends the entire day watching dancers, clowns and singers. All festivals have the same basic theme with very elaborate costumes and masks. This was a small festival and we were able to go into the back room where the dancers came and went and put on costumes. Small children and families milled about and the children played with the costumes.

Festival at Tamshing Monastery (1501) Bhutan--October 2014--The People, Places, Culture

Festival at Tamshing Monastery (1501) Bhutan. Festivals are enacting a specific and historical ritualized story at local festivals that occur througout Bhutan several times a year. Schools are out, everyone dresses up, brings a picnic, and spends the entire day watching dancers, clowns and singers. All festivals have the same basic theme with very elaborate costumes and masks. This was a small festival and we were able to go into the back room where the dancers came and went and put on costumes. Small children and families milled about and the children played with the costumes.

Festival at Tamshing Monastery (1501) Bhutan--October 2014--The People, Places, Culture

Festival at Tamshing Monastery (1501) Bhutan. Festivals are enacting a specific and historical ritualized story at local festivals that occur througout Bhutan several times a year. Schools are out, everyone dresses up, brings a picnic, and spends the entire day watching dancers, clowns and singers. All festivals have the same basic theme with very elaborate costumes and masks. This was a small festival and we were able to go into the back room where the dancers came and went and put on costumes. Small children and families milled about and the children played with the costumes.

Festival at Tamshing Monastery (1501) Bhutan--October 2014--The People, Places, Culture

Festival at Tamshing Monastery (1501) Bhutan. Festivals are enacting a specific and historical ritualized story at local festivals that occur througout Bhutan several times a year. Schools are out, everyone dresses up, brings a picnic, and spends the entire day watching dancers, clowns and singers. All festivals have the same basic theme with very elaborate costumes and masks. This was a small festival and we were able to go into the back room where the dancers came and went and put on costumes. Small children and families milled about and the children played with the costumes.

Festival at Tamshing Monastery (1501) Bhutan--October 2014--The People, Places, Culture

Festival at Tamshing Monastery (1501) Bhutan. Monk with "friend" looking a printed photo I took and gave to them. Some monks can marry. Festivals are enacting a specific and historical ritualized story at local festivals that occur througout Bhutan several times a year. Schools are out, everyone dresses up, brings a picnic, and spends the entire day watching dancers, clowns and singers. All festivals have the same basic theme with very elaborate costumes and masks. This was a small festival and we were able to go into the back room where the dancers came and went and put on costumes. Small children and families milled about and the children played with the costumes.

Festival at Tamshing Monastery (1501) Bhutan--October 2014--The People, Places, Culture

Festival at Tamshing Monastery (1501) Bhutan. Festivals are enacting a specific and historical ritualized story at local festivals that occur througout Bhutan several times a year. Schools are out, everyone dresses up, brings a picnic, and spends the entire day watching dancers, clowns and singers. All festivals have the same basic theme with very elaborate costumes and masks. This was a small festival and we were able to go into the back room where the dancers came and went and put on costumes. Small children and families milled about and the children played with the costumes.

Festival at Tamshing Monastery (1501) Bhutan--October 2014--The People, Places, Culture

Festival at Tamshing Monastery (1501) Bhutan. Festivals are enacting a specific and historical ritualized story at local festivals that occur througout Bhutan several times a year. Schools are out, everyone dresses up, brings a picnic, and spends the entire day watching dancers, clowns and singers. All festivals have the same basic theme with very elaborate costumes and masks. This was a small festival and we were able to go into the back room where the dancers came and went and put on costumes. Small children and families milled about and the children played with the costumes.

Festival at Tamshing Monastery (1501) Bhutan--October 2014--The People, Places, Culture

Festival at Tamshing Monastery (1501) Bhutan. Clowns. Phallic symbols are important parts of Buddhist traditions in Bhutan. Many houses and buildings in the countryside have phallic symbols painted on the walls. Festivals are enacting a specific and historical ritualized story at local festivals that occur througout Bhutan several times a year. Schools are out, everyone dresses up, brings a picnic, and spends the entire day watching dancers, clowns and singers. All festivals have the same basic theme with very elaborate costumes and masks. This was a small festival and we were able to go into the back room where the dancers came and went and put on costumes. Small children and families milled about and the children played with the costumes.

Festival at Tamshing Monastery (1501) Bhutan--October 2014--The People, Places, Culture

Festival at Tamshing Monastery (1501) Bhutan. "Black Hat" Dancers are the "good guys" who get rid of the Creamatorium workers who are the bad guys.Festivals are enacting a specific and historical ritualized story at local festivals that occur througout Bhutan several times a year. Schools are out, everyone dresses up, brings a picnic, and spends the entire day watching dancers, clowns and singers. All festivals have the same basic theme with very elaborate costumes and masks. This was a small festival and we were able to go into the back room where the dancers came and went and put on costumes. Small children and families milled about and the children played with the costumes.

Festival at Tamshing Monastery (1501) Bhutan--October 2014--The People, Places, Culture

Festival at Tamshing Monastery (1501) Bhutan. Festivals are enacting a specific and historical ritualized story at local festivals that occur througout Bhutan several times a year. Schools are out, everyone dresses up, brings a picnic, and spends the entire day watching dancers, clowns and singers. All festivals have the same basic theme with very elaborate costumes and masks. This was a small festival and we were able to go into the back room where the dancers came and went and put on costumes. Small children and families milled about and the children played with the costumes. The young women really liked this guy and several got their pictures taken with him.

Festival at Tamshing Monastery (1501) Bhutan--October 2014--The People, Places, Culture

Festival at Tamshing Monastery (1501) Bhutan. "Black Hat" Dancers are the "good guys" who get rid of the Creamatorium workers who are the bad guys.gFestivals are enacting a specific and historical ritualized story at local festivals that occur througout Bhutan several times a year. Schools are out, everyone dresses up, brings a picnic, and spends the entire day watching dancers, clowns and singers. All festivals have the same basic theme with very elaborate costumes and masks. This was a small festival and we were able to go into the back room where the dancers came and went and put on costumes. Small children and families milled about and the children played with the costumes.

Festival at Gangtey Gompa Bhutan--October 2014--The People, Places, Culture

Muscians for the Festival at Gangtey Gompa. Festivals renact a specific and historical ritualized story at local festivals that occur througout Bhutan several times a year. Schools are out, everyone dresses up, brings a picnic, and spends the entire day watching dancers, clowns and singers. All festivals have the same basic theme with very elaborate costumes and masks. This one was near Wangdi town.

Festival at Gangtey Gompa Bhutan--October 2014--The People, Places, Culture

One of many clowns at the Festival at Gangtey Gompa. Festivals enact a specific and historical ritualized story at local festivals that occur througout Bhutan several times a year. Schools are out, everyone dresses up, brings a picnic, and spends the entire day watching dancers, clowns and singers. All festivals have the same basic theme with very elaborate costumes and masks.

Festival at Gangtey Gompa Bhutan--October 2014--The People, Places, Culture

Festival at Gangtey Gompa Bhutan Festivals enact a specific and historical ritualized story at local festivals that occur througout Bhutan several times a year. Schools are out, everyone dresses up, brings a picnic, and spends the entire day watching dancers, clowns and singers. All festivals have the same basic theme with very elaborate costumes and masks.

Festival at Gangtey Gompa Bhutan--October 2014--The People, Places, Culture

Festival at Gangtey Gompa Bhutan. People from the nearby valley get rides in the back of tractors and other farm vehicles. Festivals enact a specific and historical ritualized story at local festivals that occur througout Bhutan several times a year. Schools are out, everyone dresses up, brings a picnic, and spends the entire day watching dancers, clowns and singers. All festivals have the same basic theme with very elaborate costumes and masks.