Black-hat dancers at Tse gutor, Deyang shar, Potala

The Eastern Courtyard (deyang shar) of the Potala is the setting for the important ceremony of the 'Votive Offering of the Twenty-Ninth Day', Tse gutor (rtse dgu gtor) held on the 29th day of the 12th Tibetan month. The long, steep, triple stair through which the dancers enter the courtyard can be seen in the centre of the image and above it three wide windows. The topmost one is reserved for the Dalai Lama and the lower two for the Kashag and other high-ranking officials. Black hat (zhva nag)dancers are descending the stairs and the drums and horns of the monk musicians may be seen on the left under an appliqué canopy. In the foreground, with his back to the camera, is the figure of Hashag, heavily padded and and wearing a massive, bald-headed mask.