Jammu and Kashmir, known for its picturesque beauty has an equally appealing cultural side. Buddhist monasteries, high passes, frozen lake are the popular tourist attractions, but very few people are aware of the festivals held in this scenic place. Masked dances, folk songs, musical concerts are important inclusions in most festivals held here. Here’s a list of famous events and festivals held in the land called the heaven on earth.
Organized in the month of June-July, this annual festival has monks reading books for many days. People serve tea and water to the monks while they read.
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It is the main festival of the town when artists from all over the country take part in a cultural show of their talents. The four day festival is celebrated in October or November and many sports events are also held as part of the fair.
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It is also known as the harvest festival and is considered auspicious for marriages. People throng rivers to take a ritual dip every year and fairs are organized to celebrate the beginning of the New Year.
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The festival, as the name suggests, is a celebration of river Sindhu, also known as the Indus. The festival aims at projecting the Sindhu River as a symbol of multi-dimensional cultural identity, communal harmony and peaceful co-existence in India.
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The festival is celebrated on a large-scale at Shey. It is celebrated annually on Guru Purnima. The festival aims at projecting the Sindhu River as a symbol of multi-dimensional cultural identity, communal harmony and peaceful co-existence in India.
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Falling in the second half of February, Dosmoche is one of two New Year festivals, the other being Losar. At Dosmoche, a great wooden mast decorated with streamers and religious emblems is erected.
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This festival was started by Ladakh royals. Dosmoche is celebrated every year in February with great enthusiasm in Leh, Likir and Diskit monasteries. The courtyard of the chapels below Leh Palace resonate with the sound of drums and thumping steps of masked Lamas from various monasteries performing their sacred dance. It is…
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Hemis Festival is held in the month of June or sometimes in July with a vivid display of music, blaring trumpets, masked dances, dragon dances, and a plenty of cultural events.
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This monastery is famous for its Zongkhul Huchot festival. It is celebrated on the 16th and 17th day of the fourth month of Tibetan calendar.
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Gulmarg snow festival was started in 2003 to promote and encourage winter sports and tourism here. A two-day-long snow festival has begun in Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir. The festival aims to attract tourists and is organised by the tourism ministry. A number of snow sports take place during the time of…
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Hemis Festival is held in the month of June or sometimes in July with a vivid display of music, blaring trumpets, masked dances, dragon dances, and a plenty of cultural events.
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The festival is celebrated at cave Gompa of Tak- Tok. It is among the major festivals of Ladakh. Celebrated in summer, it is yet another tourist attraction. The festival is celebrated with fanfare and locals from far-flung areas storm the place on the occasion.
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The festival usually starts from September 1 and lasts till September 15th. It is a colourful celebration of the rich, cultural diversity of Leh.
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The name itself is self explanatory. During this event celebrated at the Lingshed monastery, a prayer called Smonla, is chanted and other religious programmes are held for a fortnight in the first month of Tibetan year (February, according to the Gregorian calendar).
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Though Ladakh is predominantly populated by Buddhists, Padum has sizeable Muslim population. Therefore, various monastic festivals and Eid are celebrated with great fervour here. Monastic festivals are generally held to commemorate foundation day of a monastery and has many programmes with spiritual and social significance.
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Likir festival is the major attraction of the monastery. It is celebrated every year from the 27th to 29th of twelfth month of Tibetan calendar. Festival starts with votive offering that is also known as Dosmochey and the festival ends with lamas’ cham dances. Cham dance celebrate the victory of good over…
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Also known as Makar Sankranti, it marks the advent of spring. Taking dip in rivers is part of the rituals. ‘Chajja’ dance is also performed on the occasion. It is a custom for boys to go around asking for gifts from newly-weds and new parents.
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The New Year of Tibetan Buddhists, the festival is celebrated with lot of enthusiasm and fervor. The festival includes dancing, singing, rejoicing and merry making. Festivities last for two weeks during December or January, depending on the Lunar calander.
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Villagers dressed in traditional costumes dance and sing folk songs, backed by an orchestra. The festival also features musical concerts, dances performed by masked lamas from selected monasteries, and mock traditional marriage ceremonies.
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Yogi Naropa is believed to have meditated under the Kanika Stupa. It now has a veiled bronze statue of the yogi. Every year the statue is unveiled in late July and Lamas of the Bardan Monastery perform masked dances as ritual offering. The two-day festival is attended by people from…
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Matho Narang Festival is main festival celebrated at Matho Monastery. It is celebrated on the 14th and 15th day of the first month of the Tibetan calendar. It is most popular among Ladakhis as they believe that gods visit the monastery on that day. Lamas and monks perform Cham dance…
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Stok Guru Tsechu is the main festival of Stok monastery. It is celebrated on the ninth and tenth day of the first month of Tibetan calendar. It comes one week prior to Matho Naranng festival of Matho Monastery. Prayers, dance (Cham by Lamas), music and food are part of celebration…
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This festival is the annual reading of the Tibetan canon (religious scripts) and is held during the winter.
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Two festivals are very popular in the monastery. First is the Gang-Sngon Tsedup which starts on the 17th day and ends on 19th day of the first month of the Tibetan calendar.
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Major festival of the monastery is Gustor which is celebrated every year on 28th and 29th of the eleventh month of Tibetan calendar. It starts with prayers and votive offering and ends with mask dance by the Lamas.
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The two day annual festival happens in the Spituk Monastery. The festival is held in the 11th month of the Tibetan calendar and symbolizes victory of good over evil. The mask dance is the highlight of the event. The prayers start seven days prior to the festival and dances are presented…
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The New Year of Tibetan Buddhists, the festival is celebrated with lot of enthusiasm and fervor. Festivities last for two weeks during December or January, depending on the lunar calendar.
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It is held in Matho Monastery and it is a very colorful festival. The first two days mask dances are held. The masks that the priests wear reflect the faces of Gods and Goddesses. The festival is popular as after two months of isolated meditation, two oracles appear which come to the…
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