The cham dance (Tibetan: འཆམ་, Wylie: 'cham) is a lively masked and costumed dance associated with some sects of Tibetan Buddhism and Buddhist festivals. The dance is accompanied by music played by monks using traditional Tibetan musical instruments. The dances often offer moral instruction relating to karuṇā (compassion) for sentient beings and are held to bring merit to all who perceive them. The term "devil dance" was an early 20th century Western description of the performance; its name was derived from the costumes worn by performers.