Festivals of Leh Ladakh

Dosmoche – It is called the festival of scapegoat and celebrated with pompand show in Leh. It falls in the second half of February – it is the New Year celebration for the people and you will find a long wooden mast is decorated with colorful streamers and religious emblem. They offer small figures of dough called storma and then throw them in fire or in the dessert. These are called scapegoats and they carry with them the old year’s evil spirits and then they are able to welcome the New Year.

Hemis Festival – Ladakh is a conglomeration of different culture and festivals and Hemis is one such festival. Buddhist culture has been inviting the people all over India and the festivals and fairs are a reflection of the festivals with Buddhist culture. This is a huge festival with people turning from all over the places and hold significance for the people who turn up there for this festival. The Buddhist guru Padmasambhava’s birth anniversary is celebrated for two long days and it is celebrated in the Hemis Gompa. It is the tenth day of the lunar month in Tibet and falls in June and July.

Losar – This is the celebration for Ladakh New Year that lasts for two long weeks in the month of December or January, as per their Lunar Calender. Buddhists offer their prayer and other offerings to their God in Gompas and in the domestic shrines. The festival is definitely marked by ancient rituals and festivities and is a good way to celebrate the New Year. They celebrate with stage fights with the evil and the winning, the chanting is done while they pass through crows with torches. Dancing of Ibex deer and other battles between kings and his ministers add to the fun. This festival changes its place and time each year.

Also Read -> 10 Famous Festivals Celebrated in India

Sindhu Darshan – This is a celebration of the river sindhu and this name is for the river Indus. The river has its origin from Manas Sarover and so people like to visit it and offer puja and gets darshan.It is the symbol of multi-dimensional identity of culture and communal peace and harmony and also of a co-existence of the people here in peace. This festival also salutes and pays homage to the soldiers who have fought and died for this country a Valliant’s death. This is celebrated in the month of May – June by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir and people from all over the world gets a chance to see the beautiful place from very near its origin.

Ladakh Harvest Festival – This festival starts from the 1^st of September and lasts till the 15^th of September. It is a rich and colorful mix of different cultures and there are people from all over the place reaching out for being a part of the festivals. Every day there is music and dancing and polo, archery and even wedding ceremonies are held to celebrate the festival. The carnival parade happens with masked folk dances and other such engaging performances. These festivals are a part of the simple life of the people living here.

Tak -Tok Festival
It is among the major festivals of Ladakh. Celebrated in summer, Tak-Tok festival is celebrated at cave Gompa of Tak- Tok. It is yet another tourist attraction. The festival is celebrated with fanfare and locals from far-flung areas storm the place on the occasion.