Archery is the national sport of the tiny, Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan. Competitions are held each week in villages and towns all over the country and are a ribald show of color and excitement. Players wearing the traditional dress of Bhutan, called the “goh," each shoot for targets placed 140 yards apart and matches are lively with singing and dancing and players jeering the other team’s abilities. Traditionally the game was played with bamboo bows and arrows but in recent years players have turned to American style, state of the art carbonite bows and arrows. Though the lightening fast, ultra accurate equipment has not dampened the tradition of the sport, it is somewhat ironic that a weapon used mainly for hunting in the United States is used for a blood free sport in the Buddhist Kingdom of Bhutan. Tandin Gyeltshen, 37, readies his bow for a friendly match in the hills above Thimphu, the capitol city of Bhutan.

Kinzang, 42, takes aim during a friendly match outside the capitol city of Thimphu, Bhutan. He wears the traditional goh. Archery is the national sport of the tiny, Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan. Competitions are held each week in villages and towns all over the country and are a ribald show of color and excitement. Players wearing the traditional dress of Bhutan, called the “goh," each shoot for targets placed 140 yards apart and matches are lively with singing and dancing and players jeering the other team’s abilities.

Right, Sonam Lhagyel, 33, shoots his bow during a friendly match in the hills above Thimphu, the capitol city of Bhutan.

A player uses a stabilizer decorated with a "Divine Phallus" on his bow during a friendly match in the hills above Thimphu, the capitol city of Bhutan. The "Divine Phallus" honors Drukpa Kunley, a Buddhist Lama who advocated the "middle way" of Buddhism. Today the symbol is painted on homes and used as decoration to ward off evil.

An unidentified players dances and sings ribald songs after the opposing team hits the target during a friendly archery match outside the capitol city of Thimphu, Bhutan.

l-r, Kinzang, 42, (only one name), Ugyen Tshering, 30, Jigme Dorji, 30, and unidentified. Players dance and sing ribald songs after the opposing team hits the target during a friendly match outside the capitol city of Thimphu, Bhutan.

Decorated target used during a friendly match outside the capitol city of Thimphu, Bhutan.

Sonam Gyeltshen, 36, and Sonam Lhagyel, 33, pull bows out of a target during a friendly match in the hills above Thimphu, the capitol city of Bhutan.

Tashi Wangyel, 37, has a snack of noodles during a friendly match in the hills above Thimphu, the capitol city of Bhutan.

Karma Tenzin, 31, has a glass of Bhutanese scotch during a friendly match outside the capitol city of Thimphu, Bhutan.