Anthropologist Françoise Pommaret introduces a fearsome mask worn during ritual dances in which performers become the deities, granting blessings and taming demons. This mask shows one of the eight forms of Padmasambhava, a legendary yogi and magician who played a key role in converting the lands of Tibet and Bhutan to Buddhism. 2/94 Dancers identify themselves with the religious hero and reenact his deeds, bringing blessings to the community. Such masked dances, known as cham, are performed at festivals across the Himalayan world.