Divided By Cities, United By Traditions - 12 Festivals Of Leh Ladakh

Before you start reading our blog, do figure out a season in which you're planning to go for which we have curated a complete guide for the same - An Ultimate Guide To Leh-Ladakh, pick your favorite season and enjoy the beauty of nature at it's best only in Leh Ladakh. 

Leh Ladakh is one of the most visited places in India - This place can also be called the paradise of the Indian continent with its glorifying picturesque landscape and scenic views that never fail to mesmerize the visitors with its allure. Leh-Ladakh! The highest settlement in India in the northernmost state of Jammu And Kashmir is one scenic beauty that has been on every traveler's bucket list. 

India is the country of diverse culture and every culture has their own festivals to celebrate and enjoy in their own way. Similarly, Leh-Ladakh, has its own bunch of festivals and the localities celebrate them with utter grace and joy. Not only the locals, tourists also love to be a part of them and enjoy every bit of Leh Ladakh's culture and tradition. It's the best way to mingle with localities and experience the real joy of knowing a city and its culture. Pick your favorite festival and visit Leh Ladakh at that particular time to explore the beauty of it. Here is a list of 10 Festivals celebrated in Leh Ladakh which makes this city more beautiful and rich in culture.

1. Losar Festival

This is one of the most popular and colorful festivals that is celebrated across the whole of Ladakh with great enthusiasm in the month of December. This festival is for welcoming the new year, it falls in the 11th month of the Tibetan Calendar. There are a lot of cultural programmes, rituals, and many breathtaking performances that take place on this day. Gods, Ancestors, and animals are also fed this day without any delay. Kitchens are decorated with the images of Ibex, a symbol depicting good luck.

2. Sindhu Darshan

3. Hemis Tsechu 

4. Ladakh Festival 

5. Yuru Kabgyat 

7. Matho Nagrang 

8. Deskit Gustor Festival

This festival is celebrated in the Diskit Monastery for two days. The significance of this festival highlights the win of good over evil. You'll witness Lamas performing the sacred masks dance accompanied by live music created out of cymbals, drums, and horns. You'll be overwhelmed by the Fiesta feels - as the festival will hit you in the feels.

9. Thiksey Gustor Festival

It's a 2-day festival celebrated in Thiksey Monastery, Spituk Monastery, and Karsha Nanzkar. Distribution of sacrificial cake also takes place when the festivity ends. An enactment of the murder of King Lang Darma of Tibet also takes places holding a huge significance for the origin of this festival.

10. Chemday Wangchok Festival

Chemday Wangchok Festival is celebrated in Chemdrey Monastery which was erected by the great Buddhist guru Lama Taktsang Repa in Ladakh (44 km from Leh). This festival marks the victory of good over the evil. The 28th and 29th day of the ninth month of Tibetan calendar mark the beginning of this festival. This year it is falling on 5th-6th November 2018.

When - 5th and 6th November 2019
Where - Chemdrey Monastery

11. Dosmoche Festival

It is the last festival celebrated in respect to New Year Celebrations. It was originated by The royals of Ladakh to erase evil from everywhere. Lamas from Takthok Monastery recite mantras during this festival to eradicate evil. Holy emblems are put across Leh, traditional sacred mask dances take place. The burning of the ritual offerings implies removal of all evil spirits. It is celebrated on 28th and 29th day of the 12th Tibetan Month.

12. Stok Guru Tsechu Festival

One of the most special parts of every festival has to be the Masked Dances as they hold a great importance and depicts the teachings and stories of Buddhism. It happens on the 9th and 10th day of the 1st month of Tibetan Calendar. Two oracles appear during this festival - the forecast of the oracles are taken seriously by the localities. Monks prepare them by mean to receive the spirit of gods.