Mask Festival on the Volcanic Ash Plains

Cultural Festival: Papua New Guinea is a diverse country, amazingly with 800 different languages, cultures and traditions. Rabaul people have a rich cultural heritage endowed in the spiritual realm of their ancestors, passed down from generations and driven by ancestral spirits portrayed by ritual, melody, chants, rhythm, and movement. Join the locals and celebrate a unique and fascinating culture. Take a 10-minute transfer to Maltech School Grounds for a traditional welcome and a basket, which contains two fathoms of traditional shell money that you can use to buy assorted items including soft drinks or kulau (fresh coconut). Rabaul has a dual currency and local shell money is still widely used. The festival starts with a traditional, remarkable and jaw dropping whip dance from a variety of dance groups, with elaborate and colourful headdresses, exciting rhythmic chants, and action-packed dancing. A local guide will provide information and you are free to walk around, capture moments with your camera and partake in the activities. Mingle with Dance Master Tene Buai, a member of a spiritual realm of Dance artists. A short break allows time to see and buy some artefacts, and activities including traditional cooking. You may also see the dancers putting on traditional face painting. Check with your guide before entering the dressing area for the traditional dance groups. Some areas are prohibited from the public. Enjoy another 45 minutes of dancing by traditional dance groups who are totally different in rhythm, texture, tune, decoration, traditional head dresses and attires, and are fascinating to watch.