This video was taken as part of NGO Pasifika Renaissance’s efforts to document oral heritage of Sapwuahfik Atoll. It depicts a festive day on the occasion of the International Women’s Day, which was celebrated in a traditional manner, by welcoming those visiting Sapwuahfik islanders from the main island of Pohnpei. It includes footage of preparation of food and dance attire, ceremonial procession of a gift float and accompanying chant, and traditional dance on that day as well as recording of a historical song composed to commemorate WWII and a traditional sailing canoe.

This dance is a reconstruction of the masked dance performed in the Drametse region, rearranged for a solo performance. ‘Nga’ means drum, and ‘Cham’ means ‘masked ritual dance’. The Drametse Nga Cham is a dance performed during the Drametse festival to commemorate the great teacher ‘Padmasambhava’, who brought Tibetan Buddhism to Bhutan in the 8th century.\n\nIt is said that Drametse Nga Cham originated from a dance performed by legendary male and female heroes living in the celestial world. Traditionally, it was performed by 10 musicians and 16 male dancers. The dancers wear monk’s robes and wooden masks depicting real or legendary animals, and dance in the temple yard.\n\nDrametse Nga Cham has an important place in the Bhutanese society, with religious and cultural significance. The Bhutanese see this dance as the source of their spiritual strength and a symbol of their national identity. However, there have been challenges in its transmission in recent years, with a decline in the number of practitioners and students.\n\nCharacteristics:\n∙Inscribed to the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008\n∙Cham, a type of masked ritual dance\n\nPerformed by Ngawang Tencin\nDirected by Ngawang Tencin

Every year, the people of Nam Giang Village organize a traditional festival at Dai Bi Buddhist temple to commemorate Zen master Tu Dao Hanh. Starting from New Year's Eve to the festival period from the twentieth to the twenty-forth days of the second lunar month, a variety of Buddhist rituals mixed with fold beliefs are performed. \n\nIn particular, the sacred puppet theater serves to convey spiritual enlightenment to the people and deliver their wishes to the Buddha and saints through music and dance. This video tells the story of the members of a Buddhist puppet theater troupe who pray for the wellbeing and happiness of their community.

The film is about the traditional village festival in Phu Dong village that is organized annually to commemorate the Giong God from the 7th to the 9th days of the fourth lunar month. Among the Commanders, the Commander of the Flag is the most important, symbolizing the communal God. It is the task of Hieu to choose good people from decent families to serve the God. After taking part in the festival, they are honored by people in the area. The film emphasizes the social and religious aspects of the life of the local village people who worship their local god and the festival reflects the spiritual life of the community.