Dance of Gathpo and Ganmo

Some Bhutanese festivals in central and eastern Bhutan have a lead clown figure called Gathpo or old man. He is often accompanied by a female clown and a retinue of junior clowns. These clowns start the festival with a bawdy dance filled with salacious movements while also narrating their origin in a witty and humourous recitation. The dance of the old man and woman indicate the initial rise of human beings. The recitation which they chant are paradoxical statements meant to trigger laughter and also break through conventional ideas and practices.