Monastic Festivals

Ladakh is located in the Trans-Himalayan region of India bordering Pakistan and China and physically not far from Afghanistan and Russia

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Gu-Stor literally means "Sacrifice of the 29th day". It is traditional to the monasteries of the reformist Geluk-pa order of Tibetan Buddhism. This two-day long festival is held mainly in the Spituk, Thiksey and Karsha (Zanskar) monasteries, at different times every year.
The celebration ends with the dismemberment and dispersal of the "Storma" (Sacrificial cake) by the leader of the Black Hat dancers in a ceremony called "Argham" or "Killing". This symbolizes the destruction of all forms of evil. And also re-enacts the assassination of the Tibetan apostate King Lang-dar-ma, by a Buddhist monk in the mid 9th century. In some monasteries, an effigy symbolizing the stronger forces of evil is burnt at the end of the festival. The masks worn by the dancers represent the guardian divinities (Dharmapalas) of the Buddhist pantheon, and the patron divinities of the Geluk-pa order.
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An ancient tradition started by the Kings of Ladakh. Dosmoche is still celebrated every year in February with
great pomp and fervour. The courtyard of the chapel below the gates of the Leh Palace comes alive with the music of drums and the thumping steps of the masked Lamas from different monasteries performing the sacred dance-drama.
The Lamas prepare, consecrate and eventually destroy the sacrificial offerings as the climax.

The tantra of "DO"
The Lamas from the Takthok Monastery, the only Nyingmapa foundation of Ladakh, who are experts in tantric practice and astrology, prepare the elaborate "DO or Thread Crosses-the main objects of offering, which ensnare all the evil spirits, hungry ghosts and demonic forces when the prescribed mantras are recited and requisite rites observed by the Lamas.


The festive procession
Ten other kinds of offerings, of different shapes and sizes, complement the main offering. These are brought down from the main venue and carried through the main bazaar. Black Hat dancers, followed by the lamas in their religious costumes and the local people in their resplendent best, make this a spectacular procession. Musicians and the monastic orchestra lead the way. Outside the town, the offerings are burnt and destroyed with great fanfare to whish away all evil spirits and guard against natural calamities and disasters in the coming year.
Dosmoche celebrations are also held in the Liker (Indus valley) and Deskit (Nubra valley) monasteries. In Deskit, a number of folk dances are performed as interludes to the "Chhams"

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The 10th day (Tse-Chu) of the Tibetan lunar month is celebrated as the birthday of Padmasambhava
(Guru Rimpoche), the founder of Tibetan Buddhism. The Hemis Monastery celebrates this event in the form of a 2-day festival. Its resident Lamas perform sacred masked dances leading to the destruction of the sacrificial offerings. Masks worn by the lamas represent various guardian divinities of the Dugpa order, of which Hemis is the leading establishment in Ladakh.
This 200 year-old tradition was introduced by a member of Ladakh's ruling family who was reincarnated in the 18th century as the monastery's Head Lama, "Sras Rimpoche". The Hemis dances are a re-enactment of the magical feasts of Padmasambhava, in his services to the cause of Buddhism in his eight different manifestations.
The festival takes an auspicious turn every 12 years in the Tibetan Year of the Monkey, when the two-storey high Thanka' depicting Padmasambhava is displayed. This famous Thanka, richly embroidered with pearls and semi-precious stones, is due to be displayed nest in AD 2004.
As the Hemis festival is held during the peak summer season, it attracts the largest number of people from within and outside Ladakh.

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On the 15th day of the 1st Tibetan month, a 2-day festival is held at the Matho Monastery-the only Shakyapa monastic establishment in Ladakh. During this festival, the two oracles of the monastery make a public appearance in their full spiritual form. These oracles, actually monks of the monastery, meditate in complete isolation for a full month in preparation of entering in a state of trance and invoking the spirit of the deities.
On the day of the festival, they invoke and receive the deities and come into their full spiritual trance. They run over the high rise ramparts of the monastery jump from one balcony to another and execute a number of acrobatic feats, all while blindfolded! People from far and wide come to hear the oracles predict key future events and to seek answers about their own future.
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Yet another festival of oracles, this is held in Stok, the present seat of royal residence. The two Stok oracles-unlike those at Matho are laymen, spiritually cleansed and prepared by the lamas of the Spituk Monastery to receive the spirit of the deities.As in the case of Matho, people repose abiding faith in the predictions made by the Stok oracles.
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Phyang is one of the two Dringungpa Monasteries in Ladakh. This monastery, 17 km west of Leh, holds its festival in July/August. Like other monastic festivals, sacred dance-dramas or "Chhams" from the core of this festival. But the main attraction for the devotees is the pilgrimage to the huge Thangka of Skyabje Jigten Gombo, founder of the Dringungpa monastic order, which is kept on exhibition during the two-day festival.
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This 2-day festival is celebrated during July, in the spectacularly situated monastery of Lamayuru, about 127 kms west of Leh.
The masks worn by the lamas during the dances represent guardian divinities from the Dringungpa pantheon. As in the case of other monastic festivals, the sacred dance-drama concludes with destruction of the sacrificial offerings. Devotees come by the hundreds to witness the celebration.
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This New Year festival has an interesting history. In the 17th century, King Jamyang Namgyal decided to lead an expedition against the Balti forces during winter. He was advised that any expedition before the New Year would be inauspicious. Like Alexander's solution to the Gordian Knot, his solution was direct and simple. He advanced the New Year celebrations by two months, establishing a tradition that people still follow-celebrating Losar on the first day of the eleventh month of every year.

Blending Buddhism With Bonism
Losar is the most elaborate of all the socio-reigious events of Ladakh. It involves the entire population of the region. Interestingly, the rites and rituals is a mixture of Buddhist and the pre-Buddhist Bon religious practices. Preparations start by the end of the harvest period when people start stocking provisions, sheep and goats for the customary feasts as well as grain for brewing "Chang") a local barley beer). New clothes and jewelry are kept ready for the occasion.

Lights And Feasting
The festivities start on the 29th day of the 10th month with the illumination fo buildings and shrines. Sheep and goats reserved for the occasion are ritually slaughtered to begin the series of evening feasts for all relatives by rotation.

Ritual And Warmth
The New Year day itself starts with the offering of votive and greetings to various gods, elders, relatives and friends. Afterwards, the elders await the customary visitors who come to greet the family with presents and "Khatak" (ceremonial scarf).
The Younger members go out to visit others families. Leh and its adjoining villages wear a carnival look as people come out in their colourful best. Its is customary for the Muslims and Christians in Leh to visit their Buddhist friends and greet them on the eve of Losar.

Guardians Of Prosperity
Images of ibex and other auspicious symbols are put on the door, walls of the kitchen and the top-end of its central wooden column. The ibex is a symbol of fertility and is believed to bring prosperity. Small images of ibex molded from dough are arranged on kitchen shelves to add to the good luck.

The Procession Of Fire
In the evening, the "Metho" ceremony takes place. The bazaars of Leh and the streets of villages get lit up as processions bearing flaming torches pass through with the people chanting slogans to chase out evil spirits and hungry ghosts-the result of bad Karma (one's deeds).
Whirling torches create a fantastic display of fire and light. At the end of it all, the torches are thrown well outside the town to bid farewell to the old year and to welcome the new one.
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Sindhu River
Symbol of Strength
Sindhu (Indus)- a great Trans-Himalayan river-is one of the longest rivers in the world with an astonishing length of 2900 km. Rising in south-western Tibet, at an altitude of 16,000 feet, Sindhu enters the Indian territory near Leh in Ladkah. The river has a total drainage area of about 4,50,000 square miles, of which 1,75,000 square miles lie in the Himalayan mountains and foothills.
The river's name comes from Sanskrit word "Sindhu". It is mentioned in the Rig Veda, the earliest (c. 15000 BC) chronicles and hymns of the Aryan people of ancient India, and is the source of the contry's name. Wrods like Hindu, Hindustan and India have been derived from Sindhu and "Indus", the name given to Sindhu by foreigners.

The "Sindhu Darshan" or Sindhu Festival aims at projecting the Indus as a symbol of India's unity and communal harmony. Whilst promoting tourism to this area, this festival is also a tribute to the brave soldiers of India.
Sindhu stands for peaceful co-existence and communal harmony. Sindhu represents our country's identity and civilization. The "Sindhu Yatra" will help forge a bond of unity with those who live in far-flung corners of the country; thus providing them an opportunity to visit the beautiful region of Ladakh.
The Sindhu Darshan Festival, an annual event, is held each year for three days form 1st to the 3rd of June at Leh, Ladakh. Three days of celebrations mark the festivities.
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This socio-religious event is celebrated to observe the birthday and the Buddhahood of Tsongkhapa-the Tibetan saint-scholar who founded the Gelukpa School of Tibetan Buddhism during the 14th century. The Gelukpa School later developed as the dominant monastic order in Central Tibet.
The festivities include illumination of all monastic, public and residential buildings throughout Ladakh.
Namchot heralds the beginning of the New Year celebrations, which continue till the festival of Dosmoche.
During this festival, it is customary to prepare various varieties of the traditional dish, "Thukpa" in every home to be served to visiting friends and relatives to mark celebration of the festival.
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Beyond the sylvan valley of Kashmir lies the enigmatic land of Ladakh. Leh, a fabled city, looms as a sentinel on the ancient silk route from Sinkiang to West Asia and to the plains of India. In 400 AD, the great Chinese traveler Fa-Hsien visited the city and was amazed by its natural grandeur. Ladakh presents a mesmerizing blend of Buddhist and Muslim cultures. In the month of September, the 'Moonland' of Ladakh comes alive with a magic of its own.
The people fabulously bedecked with gold and silver ornaments and turquoise headgear throng the streets. Monks in their ritual regalia, wearing colourful masks dance to the entrancing rhythm of cymbals, flutes and trumpets. The Yak, Lion and Tashishpa dances depict the many legends and fables of Ladakh, the hermit kingdom. Ancient monasteries sporting flags in a riot of colours, display of 'Thankas', archery competitions, a mock marriage, horse-polo, and an array of sumptuous Ladakh cuisine are the highlights of this festival. A range of exquisite handicrafts and quaint antiques populate the lanes and bazaars of the region. Guests are served 'Chang', a delightful barley concoction that lends a touch of abandon to the aura of religiosity. For those with a more adventurous bent of mind, rafting on the Sindhu (Indus) and Zanskar rivers, paragliding, and trekking are some of the activities offered during the festival.

Practice : Ladakh presents a hypnotic mixture of Buddhist and Muslim cultures. The streets are crowded with people dressed in gold and silver ornaments and turquoise headgear. Monks in their ritual regalia, wearing colourful masks dance to the entrancing rhythm of cymbals, flutes and trumpets. The Yak, Lion and Tashishpa dances depict the many legends and fables of Ladakh, the hermit kingdom. Brightly colored flags flutter from ancient monasteries; displays of Thankas, archery competitions, a mock marriage, horse-polo, and an array of sumptuous Ladakh cuisine are the highlights of this festival. A range of exquisite handicrafts and quaint antiques populate the lanes and bazaars of the region. Guests are served chang, a delightful barley concoction that lends a touch of abandon to the aura of religiosity.
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