Black Atsara mask

The phento (servant) of the great hunter’s called Gonpo Dorji appear first and jokes with the clowns (Atasara). Then comes the hunter (Gonpo Dorji) crowned with leafed and carrying a bow and arrows. He is accompanied by his two dog. These dancers are wearing knee-length yellow skirts and dog masks. The servant jokes very disrespectfully with his master who, before going hunting must perform some good-luck ritual. The priest who is called, performs the ritual in ways contrary to the Buddhist tradition, while the atsaras  and the servant go on with their jokes.

Which is in fact a caricatural reminder of unorthodox saints of crazy wisdom or remnants of loose lustful behaviour of some priests who abused tantric Buddhism, it is today one of Bhutan’s unique and exotic cultural institution.

These elaborately carved and very decorative mask is kept in white with a green mane and red mouth. To enjoy the mask, it can be placed on a shelf or you hung on the wall, as it has two holes at the top.