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Ladakh Monastic Festival Tours
Chhams: A highly Choreographed sacred dance drama, is the core event of every monastic festival. Select group of resident monks – wearing masks, each one representing a legend of divinity and also historical episodes or folk tales – perform the dances, holding ritual objects around the central flag pole of the monastery. It is the monastic festivals that provide the average Ladakhi with the spice of life. No other festival can match these in terms of the festive spirit and entertainment value. These festivals are held to commemorate the founding of a monastery, birthday of its patron saint or major event in the evolution of Tibetan Buddhism. Thousands of people turn out turn out in their colourful best making every festival a carnival of colours. Hemis Monastery Festival
The tenth day (Tses-Chu), of the Tibetan lunar month is celebrated as the birthday of the Padmasambhava (Guru Rimpoche), the founder of Tibetan Buddhism. The Hemis monastery celebrates this event in the form of a 2-day festival. Its resident Lamas perform the sacred masked dances leading to the destruction of the evil forces, & sacrificial offerings. The masks worn by the lamas represent various guardian divinities of the Dugpa order, of which Hemis is the leading establishment in Ladakh. The Hemis dances are a re-enactment of the magical feats of Padmasambhava, in his services to the cause of Buddhism in his 8 different manifestations.
Day 01: Arrive Ex Delhi by air. Traditional welcome and assistance at airport, and transfer to hotel. Day at leisure to acclimatise to the rarefied high altitude atmosphere. Overnight in hotel. Day 02: Early morning drive 45 Kms, along Indus River to the Hemis Gompa to participate in Monastic dance festival. Overnight in Leh hotel / Deluxe Tentage Camp in Hemis Park. Day 03: Participate in the Hemis dance festival. Overnight in the Leh Hotel / Deluxe Tentage camp Hemis Park. Day 04: A.M. Visit Sabu oracle, Stok Palace & Museum. Lunch in the hotel. Evening explore Leh town. Day 05: Drive Alchi & Lamayuru Gompas. Overnight in Hotel in Leh. Day 06: Day at leisure in Leh, overnight in the hotel. Day 07: Fly to Delhi. Cost per person - € 840.00 + internal airfares on actual This itinerary can be extended to a visit to the Lamayuru Festival as well - Cost per person - € 1430.00 + internal airfares on actual Lamayuru Monastery Festival
The monastery is officially called 'Yung-dung Tharpa Ling' (a place of freedom). The Gompa houses an impressive image of the 11 headed and 1000 eyed Chendezing, the God of compassion. Yuru Kabgyat as the 2 day Lamayuru festival is locally known, depicts a sacred dance-drama ending in the destruction of sacrificial offerings. The masks worn by the lamas during the dances in this festival represent guardian divinities from the Dringungpa pantheon. Day 01: Arrive in Leh Town by air Ex Delhi. Traditional Welcome and assistance at airport, transfer to hotel. Day at leisure to acclimatise to rarefied atmosphere of high altitude. Overnight in the Hotel. Day 02: At leisure in Leh town. Day 03: Drive to Basgo and then Lamayuru via Likir Gompa. Overnight in the Deluxe Camp tent at Lamayuru. Day 04: Insight Lamayuru Festival. Overnight Deluxe camp. Day 05: Drive Rizong Gompa via Alchi Gompa into Leh town. Overnight in the hotel. Day 06: Drive to Hemis Gompa via Thiksey & Shey Palace. Overnight in Hotel at Leh. Day 07: Departure to Airport and fly to Delhi for onward journey. Cost per person - € 840.00 + internal airfares on actual Both the above itineraries can be extended to an insight into other Monasteries of Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh - Dharamsala, the seat of His Holiness the Dalai Lama; Ki, Tabo and Dankar Gompas and others. Spituk Monastery Winter Festival
The Spituk festival is held every year from 17th to 19th days of the 11th month. Sacred dances associated with the festivals of Gustor are held. The Monastery houses a collection of ancient masks, antique arms, icons and numerous thankas. Higher up the hill is the Mahakal Temple, containing the shrine of Vajrabhairava. This terrifying face is unveiled only at the annual festival in January. Day 01: Arrive Ex Delhi by air. Traditional welcome and assistance at airport, and transfer to hotel. Day at leisure to acclimatise to the rarefied high altitude atmosphere. Overnight in hotel. Day 02: Full day sight seeing of Leh town: Early morning visit Sabu oracle for Prophecy. Also visit - Namgyal peak, Shanti Stupa, Stok palace & museum, Shankar Gompa. Day 03: - Visit To Thiksey Gompa and Shey Palace Day 04: Visit Phey Gompa, Alchi Choksor and Lamayuru Monastery Day 05: Drive to Spituk Monastery to Participate in the Festival. Return back to Leh for overnight stay. Day 06: Drive to Spituk Monastery to Participate in the Festival. Return back to Leh for overnight stay. Day 07: Departure to Airport and fly to Delhi for onward journey. Cost per person - € 800.00 + internal airfares on actual TEMPERATURES EXPECTED - MINUS 20 DEGREES C THUS EXTRA WARM CLOTHING REQUIRED Other Options & Extensions
in Ladakh: |
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The centuries
old culture of Ladakh has found expression in its monuments, gompas,
oral literature, art forms, fairs and festivals, thus reflecting the
strong hold religion has in the lives of the Ladakhis.
The Hemis
Monastery situated in the South of Leh, at a distance of 43 Kms, on the
south bank
of the Indus river, Belonging to "BKA BRGYUDPA "School
of Tibetan Buddhism - one of the four major school, Hemis is a religious
institute of one of the schools. 
The festival takes an auspicious turn every 12 years in the Tibetan year
of the Monkey. The last one was in the year 1992. On this occasion the
two storeys high Thanka depicting Padmasambhava is displayed. This famous
Thanka is richly embroidered with pearls and semiprecious stones. The robes
of the dancers are different from those usually put on in the common annual
fair. This 200 Yr. old tradition was introduced by a member of Ladakh's
ruling family, who was reincarnated in 18th century, as the Monastery's
Head Lama, Sras Rimpoche'. The Hemis dances are a re-enactment of the magical
feats of Padmasambhava, in his services to the Cause of Buddhism in his
eight different manifestations. 
The Lamayuru Gompa situated atop a beautifully eroded crag has a fairy
tale quality to it. As legend goes, in the valley of Lamayuru, in the times
of Sakyamuni Buddha a lake existed with crystal clear water and nagas (serpents)
lived in it. Arahat Madhyantaka prophesied that a monastery be built and
through his supernatural powers drained out the lake. The landscapes still
bear the impression of watermarks. 
Spituk Gompa is on the hill top near Indus, around 18 Kms from Leh. Which
was founded in 11th century by Od-De the elder brother of Lha Lama Changchub-od,
the Gompa named Spituk (exemplary) when Rinchen Zangpo translator came
to that place and said that exemplary religious community would rise. Initially
it belonged to the Kadampa school then during the life time of king Gragspa
Bumide made it Gayluk Pa order. The monasteries of Sankar in Leh, Gurphug
in Stok and Tashi Gepel in Sabu are all branches of Spituk Monastery.asiasafari.com
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