The Himalayas - Ladakh Himalayas - Fairs and festivals - Hemis Chheshu, Gaun Tserug and Nagrang

Ladakh himalayas

General Info

· Villages
· Valleys and plateaus
· Lakes
· Passes
· Glaciers
· Rivers

· People
· Religion

· Fairs and festivals
    · Losar
    · Tampe Chonga
    · Jipe Chonga
    · Tukpa Sheji
    · Shey Shrupla
    · Taktak and Chimrey Anchuk
    · Spituk Gustor

Hemis Chheshu
        Gaun Tserug
        Nagrang
    · Dasmochhe
    · Likir Dasmochhe
    · Muslim festivals and fairs

· Other places of interest

The Himalayas - where earth meets sky

Hemis Chheshu
Held at the Hemis Gompa on the tenth and eleventh days of the fifth Bodhi month, this festival celebrates the birthday of Padma Sambhava. The festival attracts people from all over Ladakh and also from other parts of India as well as abroad. Hemis Chheshu is the largest summer festival held in Ladakh.

A group musical dance drama is performed by the lamas to depict the exploits of the great master Padma Sambhava in vanquishing the Bon magicians and the spirits under their control. This dance involves precise movements which are practised well in advance. Masks are worn by the performers and the drama ends in victory for Padma Sambhava.

This festival symbolizes the victory of right over wrong, good over evil. All calamities that might befall the region are exorcised away by this mystical ritual.

Gaun Tserug
The Gaun Tserug festival is celebrated at Phyang on the 28th and 29th days of the first Bodhi month. It includes ritualistic worship and the lama dance.

Nagrang
The Nagrang festival is held at Matho Gompa on the 14th and 15th days of the first Bodhi month. It includes, like other festivals, the lama dance and ritualistic worship.