The Hayachine Kagura is a series of masked dances accompanied by drum, cymbals and flute: six ritual dances begin the performance, five dances recount stories of the deities and medieval Japanese history, and a final dance features a performer dressed as a "shishi, " an imaginary lion-like creature representing the Hayachine deity himself.

UNESCO: Culture

For a week before the final Nongkrem dance, Sing and his sister, who took over as priestess after their mother's death two years ago, go through ritual prayers, dances and sacrifices to propitiate the gods and seek blessings for the people.

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