Bhutan – Festivals - October 22, 2002

The festival started at night, and celebrate the harvest moon – asking for good luck in the harvest. The dances range from the Black Hat Dance to this dance, commemorating a victory of good spirits over evil spirits.

In the Trongsa Dzong we saw masks that were used that were several hundred years old – this mask is newly repainted for the festival.

L And every festival has to have a variety of clowns. These characters amuse the people between dances – and often accost foreigners for contributions – the reward – a blessing from his wooden phallic symbol! On many houses are painted phallic symbols and they are common wherever you look.

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The festival started about 8pm, and there were maybe a thousand people there – including only about 50 foreigners. Mostly the local people, and they were all cheering and taunting any dancer who did not know every step to his dance perfectly. Yes, they are all male – the monastery teachings include dance, and no women are allowed to take part. Much like dancing in Europe in the Middle Ages. We went back to the hotel about 11pm, and missed the biggest dance – “the naked dance” or the fertility dance, where the dancers are naked, and dance to increase the fertility of the family!

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