FESTIVITIES WHILE FEASTING WITH THEIR LOVED ONES. TRADITIONAL DISHES LIKE BUTTER TEA, MOMOS, AND THUKPA ARE PREPARED AND SAVOURED TOGETHER. MONKS ARE DRESSED IN COLOURFUL ROBES AND PERFORM VIBRANT DANCE DRAMAS. KHATAK, A TRADITIONAL SCARF IS PRESENTED TO EACH OTHER AS A GIFT.

THE MONLAM CHENMO FESTIVAL IS CELEBRATED WITH THE SOLE MOTIVE TO PRAY FOR THE SURVIVAL AND SPREADING OF THE DHARMA IN THE MINDS OF ALL SENTIENT BEINGS AND FOR WORLD PEACE AND HARMONY.AS EVIDENT FROM THE NAME, THE GREAT PRAYER FESTIVAL IS A PRAYER FESTIVAL OF LADAKH, IT WAS ESTABLISHED IN TIBET IN 1409 BY LAMA TSONGKHAPA TO COMMEMORATE SHAKYAMUNI BUDDHA’S PERFORMANCE OF MIRACLES AT SHRAVASTI. IT FELL ON THE 4TH TO 11TH DAY OF THE 1ST TIBETAN MONTH. THE MERRIMENT BEGINS WITH CARRYING A STATUE OF MAITREYA (FUTURE BUDDHA) ON A THRONE. IT COMPLETES A CIRCUIT THROUGH THE LEH MARKET FROM CHOWKHANG VIHARA. DEVOTEES THRONG IN FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF LADAKH TO PRAY AND MAKE OFFERINGS.

THE HIGHLIGHT OF THIS FESTIVAL IN LADAKH IS THE TWO ORACLES. THEY ATTEND THE FESTIVAL AFTER COMPLETING ONE MONTH OF SOLITUDE THAT THEY HAVE INVESTED IN MEDITATING DEEPLY. BOTH OF THEM COME TO THE MONASTERY’S COURTYARD WITH THE MASKED DANCERS. THEY ARE BLESSED WITH THE POWER TO PREDICT THE FUTURE.CELEBRATED AT MATHO NAGRANG MONASTERY IN THE FIRST MONTH OF THE TIBETAN CALENDAR, THE MATHO NAGRANG FESTIVAL IS A 2-DAY EVENT. MATHO NAGRANG MONASTERY IS THE ONLY ONE IN LADAKH THAT BELONGS TO THE SAKYA SECT OR SCHOOL OF TIBETAN BUDDHISM.THE TRADITIONAL MASKED DANCE PERFORMANCES BY THE MONKS INFUSE VIBRANCY IN THE FESTIVITIES. THEY ARE CLAD IN FLAMBOYANT SILK BROCADED ROBES AND MASKS TO PRESENT THE LOOK OF LADAKHI DEITIES. PEOPLE FROM FAR AND WIDE COME TO THIS MONASTERY TO GET ADVICE ABOUT RITUALS, WHICH ARE TO BE PERFORMED TO WARD OFF DISASTERS.

THIS FESTIVAL IN LADAKH IS ESPECIALLY MARKED FOR THE ENTHUSIASM, ENERGY, AND CONSTANT SMILING FACES OF THE MONKS. A HUGE TIBETAN BUDDHIST PAINTING ON COTTON OR SILK APPLIQUÉ IS HUNG IN THE COURTYARD DURING THE FESTIVAL. THE PAINTING USUALLY DEPICTS A BUDDHIST DEITY, SCENE, OR MANDALA, ALSO KNOWN AS A THANKA OF SKYOBA JIGTEN GOMBO – FOUNDER OF THE DEGUNGPA WAY OF TEACHING AND THE DRINGUMPA MONASTIC DYNASTY.THE PHYANG TSEDUP FESTIVAL OF LADAKH IS CELEBRATED ON THE 2ND AND 3RD DAY OF THE 6TH MONTH OF THE TIBETAN CALENDAR. IT USUALLY FALLS IN THE MONTHS OF JULY OR AUGUST AND THESE MONTHS ARE IDEAL FOR LEH LADAKH BIKE TRIP TOURS. DURING THE PHYANG TSEDUP FESTIVAL CELEBRATIONS, YOU WILL SEE MONKS WEARING COLOURFUL BROCADE ROBES AND MASKS TO PERFORM TRADITIONAL DANCES IN RICH COSTUMES TO WORSHIP THEIR DEITIES. JIGTEN GOMBO IS WORSHIPPED ON THIS DAY, WHICH MARKS THE TRIUMPH OF GOOD OVER EVIL. RITUAL OFFERINGS ARE ALSO BURNT AND SACRIFICED. THE STROMA IS BURNT TO CONCLUDE THE PROCESSION.

THE DOSMOCHE FESTIVAL IS CELEBRATED AS THE LAST FESTIVAL OF THE TIBETAN NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS. THIS ANNUAL FESTIVAL WAS INITIALLY STARTED BY THE ROYAL FAMILIES IN LADAKH TO ERADICATE EVIL AROUND THEM. THE NAME OF THIS LEH FESTIVAL LITERALLY TRANSLATES TO THE ‘FESTIVAL OF SCAPEGOAT’. PRAYERS ARE OFFERED FOR THE WELL-BEING, SAFETY, AND PROSPERITY OF THE LADAKHI PEOPLE.THE GRANDEST CELEBRATIONS TAKE PLACE AT LEH PALACE. IT IS WONDERFULLY DECORATED. DRUMBEATS, MASKED DANCE, AND THE RITUALS PERFORMED BY THE LAMAS ARE THE FESTIVE HIGHLIGHTS THAT INVITE YOU TO PARTAKE IN THIS LADAKH FESTIVAL 2022. MONKS FROM DIFFERENT MONASTERIES JOIN IN TO UP THE CELEBRATORY SPIRIT. THEY PERFORM CHAMS OR THE SACRED DANCE IN THE CHAPEL BELOW THE LEH PALACE. TRADITIONAL OFFERINGS ARE ALSO BURNT AT THE SAME PLACE. SENIOR MONKS WHO ARE EXPERTS OF TANTRIC PRACTICES MAKE THE INTRICATE THREAD CROSSES TO TRAP EVIL SPIRITS, HUNGRY GHOSTS, AND DEMONIC FORCES.

THE WORD ‘GUSTOR’ IN THE TIBETAN LANGUAGE STANDS FOR SACRIFICE. IT IS HELD SIMULTANEOUSLY FOR TWO DAYS IN SEVERAL MONASTERIES. THE FESTIVAL IS A CELEBRATION OF GOOD OVER EVIL AND REINSTALLS THE FACT THAT ALL BAD THINGS COME TO AN END. THE KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS FESTIVAL IN LADAKH ARE THE TRADITIONAL MASK DANCE BY THE BLACK HAT DANCERS AND THE RITUALISTIC DEMOLITION OF THE SACRIFICIAL CAKE, ALSO KNOWN AS TORMA.THE FESTIVAL IS MARKED BY DIFFERENT KINDS OF RITUALS, CEREMONIES, FOLK MUSIC & TRADITIONAL DANCES. THE RECITATION OF A SPECIAL MORNING PRAYER MARKS THE BEGINNING OF THE FESTIVITIES. THE MONKS RECITE THE BUDDHIST SUTRAS IN A SYNCHRONISED WAY, WHICH PRESENTS A TRANCE-LIKE EFFECT AND OVERWHELMS THE LISTENERS. OTHER ELABORATE CEREMONIES FOLLOW. MASK DANCE PERFORMERS OF THIS LADAKH FESTIVAL ARE BELIEVED TO REPRESENT THE GODS, GODDESSES, GUARDIANS & PROTECTORS. THROUGH THESE DANCES, THE PERFORMERS ENACT THE MYTHOLOGICAL TALE OF KING LANG DARMA OF TIBET, WHO WAS INFAMOUS FOR BETRAYING HIS PEOPLE AND WAS EVENTUALLY SLAIN BY A MONK.

THE YURU KABGYAT IS AMONG THE FESTIVALS CELEBRATED IN LADAKH THAT PRESENTS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO SEE AN ANCIENT PLACE BEAMING WITH A LIVELY ENVIRONMENT AND CELEBRATIONS. THE KEY ATTRACTIONS INCLUDE A DRAMA DANCE KNOWN AS CHHAMA, PERFORMED IN CIRCLES BY THE COLOURFULLY DRESSED LAMAS ON DRUM BEATS.IN THE MONTH OF JUNE OR JULY, THE LAMAYURU MONASTERY OF LADAKH HOSTS THE FESTIVAL OF YURU KABYAT. THIS FESTIVAL IN LADAKH IS ENJOYED FOR TWO DAYS. DURING THE FESTIVAL, THE MONKS PERFORM MASK DANCES, PRAYERS, AND RITUALS TO WARD OFF ANY NATURAL DISASTER, EPIDEMICS, AND TO BRING PEACE TO THE WORLD. THE FESTIVAL IS OF CULTURAL IMPORTANCE NOT ONLY FOR INDIANS BUT ALSO FOR THE JAPANESE, CHINESE, AND BHUTANESE. PEOPLE FROM CHINA, JAPAN, AND BHUTAN PARTICIPATE IN THIS FESTIVAL TOO, FURTHER ENHANCING ITS CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE.

IT IS A PROMINENT LEH LADAKH FESTIVAL, WHICH IS CELEBRATED ON THE FOURTH MONTH OF THE TIBETAN CALENDAR WHICH COMES IN JUNE. IT REPRESENTS THE HOLIEST AND MOST SACRED DAYS IN BUDDHISM- THE BIRTH, ENLIGHTENMENT, AND DEATH OF BUDDHA.THIS IS ONE OF THE FESTIVALS OF LADAKH WHEN PEOPLE RECITE MANTRAS, OFFER MANDALAS, DON’T KILL ANIMALS, AND PERFORM SADHANAS TO COMMEMORATE THE PRESTIGIOUS ENLIGHTENMENT OF SAKYAMUNI.DURING SAKA DAWA, LAMAS CONTINUE CHANTING OM MANI PADME HUM, WHICH NOT ONLY REMINDS US OF THE TEACHINGS OF BUDDHA BUT ALSO IMBIBES HIGH SPIRITS AND CHEERFULNESS. EVERY YEAR ON THIS DAY, THE LAMAS CHANGE THE TARBOCHE FLAGPOLE, LOCATED IN THE SOUTH OF THE MOUNTAIN, KAILASH KORA.

THIS IS FESTIVAL OF LADAKH WHICH MAGNETISES PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE CONTINENTS. LADAKH FESTIVAL INVITES YOU TO DELIGHT IN FESTIVITIES SPRINKLED WITH SPORTS AND CULTURE. ALSO KNOWN AS LADAKH HARVEST FESTIVAL, THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST AND MOST FAMOUS FESTIVALS OF LADAKH THAT STRETCHES OVER ALMOST TWO WEEKS IN THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER. THE FESTIVAL SHOWCASES AN ARRAY OF IMPRESSIVE DANCES, MUSICALS & CULTURAL EVENTS FROM ALL OVER THE REGION. PEOPLE ENJOY FOLK DANCES ON TRADITIONAL MUSIC.RIGHT FROM THE FAMOUS ‘LION AND YAK DANCING’ TO ARCHERY, POLO CONTEST, DELICIOUS DINING, AND TASTING THE INTOXICATING BARLEY BEER— THERE IS EVERYTHING FOR YOU TO HAVE A GREAT TIME. THIS FESTIVAL IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE THE DEEP-ROOTED TRADITIONAL DIVERSITIES OF LADAKH.THE GRAND PROCESSION IMPARTS A CARNIVAL FEEL, WHERE THE LOCALS ARE ADORNED IN BRIGHT DRESSES. THE PROCESSION CULMINATES AT THE POLO GROUND.

THIS IS ONE OF THE FAMOUS FESTIVALS OF LADAKH IN WHICH THE LOCALS AND MONKS DRESS UP IN TRADITIONAL CLOTHES. THIS LADAKH FESTIVAL COMMEMORATES THE BIRTH OF GURU PADMASAMBHAVA ON THE 10TH DAY OF THE TIBETAN LUNAR MONTH. IT IS CELEBRATED AT THE HEMIS MONASTERY, WHICH IS ONE OF THE LARGEST AND MOST FAMOUS MONASTERIES OF LADAKH, LOCATED 45 KM FROM LEH. IT IS HELD IN JUNE FOR 3 DAYS AND FEATURES MASK DANCES BY LAMAS, HEMIS TSE CHU ENDS WITH A SACRIFICIAL OFFERING ON THE LAST DAY. MEN WEAR CUMMERBUNDS AND WOMEN SHINE WITH FLASHY HEADGEARS AND JEWELLERY. CHAAM – A MYSTIC MASKED DANCE IS PERFORMED BY LAMAS. THIS DANCE IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE TANTRIC TRADITION. IT IS SYNCHRONISED WITH TRADITIONAL INSTRUMENTS LIKE DRUMS, LONGHORNS AND CYMBALS. IT ADDS TO THE JOLLITY OF THE FESTIVITIES.

ONE OF THE MUCH-LOVED FESTIVALS OF LADAKH, SINDHU DARSHAN INVITES YOU TO DELIGHT IN ITS CULTURAL PROGRAMS, SIGHTSEEING, AND SOME GRAND CELEBRATIONS. IT IS A THREE-DAY FESTIVAL ORGANISED ON A FULL MOON NIGHT IN JUNE ON THE BANKS OF THE INDUS RIVER AT SHEY MANLA. KNOWN FOR ITS VIBRANCY, THIS FESTIVAL IN LADAKH PAYS HOMAGE TO RIVER SINDHU, WHICH IS A SYMBOL OF HARMONY AND UNITY. RECITING OF PRAYERS MARKS THE BEGINNING OF THE OTHER TWO DAYS, WITNESS THE VARIOUS MUSIC AND DANCE PERFORMANCES BY THE LOCALS.UNIQUE DANCES ARE PERFORMED BY PROFESSIONALS AND PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT RELIGIONS AND CASTES PARTAKE IN THIS FESTIVAL. WHAT MAKES THE CELEBRATIONS DISTINCTIVE IS THE RITUAL OF BRINGING WATER FROM THEIR OWN STATES AND IMMERSING THE POT IN THE SINDHU RIVER. 50 SENIOR LAMAS OFFER PRAYERS ON THE BANKS OF THE RIVER. AT NIGHT, A BONFIRE ADDS TO THE FESTIVE DELIGHT.

THE MAIN FESTIVAL OF LADAKH, LOSAR FESTIVAL IS CELEBRATED FOR 15 DAYS BETWEEN (JANUARY AND MARCH). BEING CELEBRATED AHEAD OF THE TIBETAN NEW YEAR, LOSAR MARKS THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW YEAR AND IS CONSIDERED TO BE THE MOST IMPORTANT FESTIVAL OF THE REGION.PEOPLE OFFER SACRIFICES AND SACRED OFFERINGS. HOUSES ARE ILLUMINATED AND PICTURES OF AN IBEX ARE PUT AS AN AUSPICIOUS SYMBOL. DURING THIS FESTIVAL OF LADAKH, A FIRE PROCESSION IS HELD WHERE PEOPLE CHANT SLOGANS TO KEEP EVIL SPIRITS AWAY. ANCIENT RITUALS ENACTED SUCH AS THE DANCE OF THE IBEX DEER AND DRAMATIC BATTLES BETWEEN THE KING AND HIS MINISTERS.