Festival Faces

People in Bhutan, a small nation in Asia, use masks to tell stories, too. The people there hold festivals to keep evil spirits away and bring good fortune.

At the festivals, dancers wear masks that show spirits, demons, and other characters. The masks are carved out of wood, and then they are painted and decorated.

The audience knows each character by its mask. That helps people follow the stories. These dances tell favorite tales from their religion, known as Buddhism. These stories tell how to lead a good life.

A masked dancer from Bhutan performs a jumping dance.

Festival dancers in Bhutan wear masks that help the audience follow the story.