Festivals in Leh

The Tibetan community in Leh, capital of northern India’s Ladakh region, celebrates the New Year during two weeks late in December or early in January, depending upon the lunar calendar, with the Losar Festival in Leh.

Offerings are made to the gods and the many ancient rituals include stage battles between monks representing 'good' and 'evil' with fascinating masks that leave the onlooker in no doubt as to which is supposed to be which! Similarly, a mock battle between the King and his ministers is included and so are various folk dances, such as that of the Ibex deer, a native of the area.

Of all Leh’s festivals this is the one at which it is most important for the whole family to gather together to celebrate and, if anyone is unable to be there, a ceremonial cup of tea will poured and served in his or her name. There are many colorful festivals in Leh. Leh is a well loved place and Leh festivals are enjoyable.

Dosmoche Festival in Leh is held towards the end of February and is known to the inhabitants of Leh as the 'Scapegoat' festival in Leh. The main feature of it is a wooden mast adorned with many religious emblems and streamers. Special 'storma' or scapegoats, little molded dough figures, are cast out into the desert and it is believed that these scapegoats take evil spirits with them, leaving the town cleansed and purified for another year.

At the end of May or beginning of June, the Sindhu Darshan festival celebrates the existence of the Sindhu River, also known as the Indus River. Groups from different states all over the continent bring earthenware pots of water from the other mighty rivers of India and this water is added to that of the Sindhu, or Indus, to signify oneness of all India's rivers and peoples. The river is worshipped as a cultural symbol and this festival celebrates peaceful co-existence with the rest of India as well as acting as a tribute to the brave soldiers of India who have fought for their country.

Towards the end of June or in early July, the most popular three-day festival takes place and the people of Leh, capital of India’s ‘Moon Land’ as Ladakh is sometimes called, flock to the temple at Hemis to be a part of it. These days, Hemis is usually held from the 9th to the 11th of July.

Hemis commemorates the birth of Guru Padmasambhava, legendary protector of the Ladakhi people, he is said to have fought off demons. Every twelve years, in the year of the Monkey, a Thanka (a huge religious icon painted or embroidered on cloth) is displayed by being hung in the courtyard of the Hemis monastery temple. An important feature of the festival is the sacred dance of the drama of the Guru’s life and mission which is performed by monks wearing ceremonial masks and gorgeous brocade robes.

Leh’s Ladakh Festival usually spans the first two weeks of September and is a colorful pageant of masked dances and other folkloric displays and acts as a showcase for local artisans, artists and craftspeople. The richness of culture and folk tradition is wonderfully represented at this festival which unites cultural troupes from all over the region in Leh, capital of India’s ‘Little Tibet’.

Monks, players, dancers and ordinary people process through Leh Market, singing and dancing as they go, in a wonderful blaze of color, to the polo ground where they thrill onlookers with an array of special dances and dramas. There are also sporting displays and competitions, including archery, and Leh’s Polo ground gets used for its original purpose with some very fine horsemanship to be seen. Lots of festivals in Leh are colorful. The festivals in Leh depict the culture.