Two clowns or Atsaras wrestle at the Druk Wangyel Tshechu festival near Thimphu, Bhutan.
At the Druk Wangyel Tshechu festival, members of the Royal Bhutan Army perform traditional masked dances.
As the festival takes place on one of the highest stages on the planet – on top of a mountain, with the Himalayas visible all around – it’s an unforgettable experience.
Astaras clown around and make the crowd laugh – but don’t let their antics fool you. They’re also experts in all forms of Bhutanese dance, and will prompt performers to correct their moves if they put a foot out of place.
And, yes – they each have a fabric phallus on their head.
In Bhutan, there are penises everywhere.
