The puppets for the shows are made from hats, heads and bodies — fighting or peaceful, young or old, funny or grim.

Those who stop to watch will be whisked away on all manner of adventures — sometimes into the thick of the battle, sometimes on a journey to fantastic lands.

In fact, the acrobatic play of the delicate puppets on the graceful metal rods is not directed at a human audience at all, but at the gods.

The puppeteers and their puppets ask the gods for good luck for all people.

What does luck look like?