Festivals Galore
Apart from being
the spiritual hub of all social activities, the monasteries are also the
centres of Ladakh's cultural. The religious fervour of the people finds
expression in the annual festivals celebrated here. These generally follow
the lunar calendar and therefore their dates vary from year to year. One
of the festivals which is famous and celebrated with zest is the Hemis
festival. Hemis is the biggest monastery of Ladakh and the spiritual centre
of Buddhists. People from all over Ladakh come to attend this two day long
festival. The festival is preceded by seven days of prayers by the monks
in the monastery. The most impressive part of the festival is the famous
mask dance which lamas of the monastery perform continuously for two days.
The masks represent various gods and demons. The whole festival signifies
the triumph of good over evil. The day marks the birthday of Guru Padmasambhava,
the founder of the red sect.
Lamas wearing terrifying masks at the Lamayuru
festival
Festival Calendar
| Leh Gompa |
End January-early February |
| Stok Gompa |
Early-mid February |
| Matho Gompa |
End February-early March |
| Lamayuru Gompa |
End April-early May |
| Hemis Gompa |
End June-early July |
| Phyang Gompa |
Early to end July |
| Thikse Gompa |
Mid July to early August |
| Spitak Gompa |
Early to mid January |
| Festival of Ladakh |
1st week of August |
Note: The dates of festivals are based
on the lunar calendar. Therefore they vary in relation to the Gregorian
calendar from year to year. |
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