Losar
Festival
This
New Year festival has an interesting history. In the 17th century, King
Jamyang Namgyal decided to lead an expedition against the Balti forces
during winter. He was advised that any expedition before the New Year
would be in auspicious.
Winter is a fascinating time to be in Ladakh. Losar -this spectacular
festival celebrates the Ladakhi/Tibetan new year. Festivities last for
2 weeks during December or January,depending on the Lunar calander .
Witness ancient rituals,the stage fights between good & evil, chanting
and passing through the crowds with fire torches. The dance of the Ibex
deer and the dramatic battles between the King & his ministers.
Music,dancing and merry-making .
Losar
is the most important of all the socio-religious events of Ladakh.
Preparations for the event start quite early, immediately after the
harvesting season is over, when people start stocking provisions for
the occasion: sheep and goats for the customary feasts as well as
grain for brewing 'Chang,' the local barley beer. New clothes and
jewelry are also made for wearing on the New Year Day. The actual
New Year celebrations begin with Namchot, a socio-religious event
celebrated to observe the birthday and the Buddha-hood of Tsongkha-pa,
the Tibetan saint-scholar and founder of the Geluk-pa school of Tibetan
Buddhism in the 14th century. From this auspicious day the New Year
celebrations continue through the festival of Losar and conclude with
that of Leh Dosmoche, the great winter festival held approximately
two weeks after Losar. During Namchot it is customary in every home
to prepare various varieties of the traditional Ladakhi 'thukpa,'
a vegetable and mutton noodle soup, and serve it to visiting friends
and relatives. The New Year day itself starts with making offerings
at the shrines of personal gods and clan ancestors and with greetings
to family elders, relatives and friends. Afterwards, elders of the
family receive customary visitors who come to greet them with presents
and 'Khatak,' a ceremonial scarf. Leh and its adjoining villages wear
a carnival look as people come out in their colorful best. It is customary
for the Muslims and Christians in Leh to call on their Buddhist friends
carrying presents and Khatak to greet them on the occasion. The New
Year festivities conclude with the 'Metho' ceremony, when a processions
of people carrying flaming torches pass through the bazaars and lanes,
chanting prayers to chase away evil spirits and hungry ghosts believed
to have accumulate during the year as a result of bad Karma (deeds).
An interesting display of fire and light is created by the whirling
of the flaming torches which are then thrown away in a gesture to
bid farewell to the old year and to welcome the new.
Ladakh Harvest Festival
A
colourful celebration of the rich,cultural diversity of Ladakh's people.These
week long festivities are held all over the region. Music, theatre,
polo, archery,& wedding ceremonies,are performed daily along with
mask and folk dances,with the final carnival parade passing through
the streets of Leh.
Ladakh
Festival Tour:-
Day
1: Arrive Delhi:
Arrive Delhi and on arrival transfer to the Hotel.
Day
2:Delhi/Leh Flight:
Early morning transfer to airport to airport to board flight for Leh.
Welcome upon arrival and transfer to hotel. Day at leisure for high
altitude acclimatization. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day
3: Leh Festival by Car/Jeep:
Morning: Proceed to the main Bazaar to witness the Inaugural procession
of the Cultural Troupes, Monks, Polo players and participants of the
Silk Route trade caravan in colorful traditional costumes. The procession
starts from London school, via main bazar, to the Polo ground, where
there are colorful burst of cultural dances.
Afternoon: Proceed to Archery stadium to witness traditional Archery
competition and cultural dances.
Evening: Enjoy musical concert at the Archery stadium. Overnight stay
at the hotel.
Day
4:Leh Festival:
After brakfast proceed to visit Sankar monastery and Shanti Stupa (a
Japanese peace pagoda which provides panoramic view of the entire Leh
town. In the distant you can see snow-capped peaks of Stok and Matho.
Afternoon: Proceed to the Polo ground to witness the inauguration of
the traditional horse polo tournament.
Evening: In the main bazaar see in reality a procession of the famous
Silk Route Traders. The traders mounted on double-humped Bacteria Camels
depict the early trade scenes between Yarkhand and Ladakh. Ladakh was
the major trade centre on the Silk route. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day
5:Leh Festival:
Proceed to Saboo village or Stok or Matho village for the Archery festival
(depending on where the archery festival is scheduled. The competition
is made more colorful by the folk dances of the particular village.
Drive
to visit Stok palace and museum:- Stok Palace 10 kms from Leh has the
only museum of Ladakh which houses one of the most precious belongings
of the earlier Royal families. In its many halls, displays include rare
precious stones, old Thanks, Queens jeweler, arms & armory and the
Royal Crown of the King. EVENING: You can join the Silk Route trade
show at the main bazaar of Leh. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day
6:Leh/Hemis/Leh:-
Indus Valley Monastery . After breakfast drive along river Indus to
visit one of the most famous monasteries of central Ladakh. Includes
visit to she palace and little further the most richest, oldest and
the famous Hemis Monastery.
Afternoon free at leisure Enjoy ongoing Polo match at the polo ground.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day
7:Leh
Proceed for halfway River Rafting in Indus. Drive to Stakna beyond Thiksay.
Start on one of the most thrilling rafting to reach Choglamsar. Enroute
pass through villages of Chushot, Thiksay and Shey. Return to hotel.
Afternoon: Drive to Phayang village (14 kms) to see the unique Phayang
monastery. Overnight at Hotel.
Day
8:Leh Festival
Proceed to visit one of the most special Monastic dances of Ladakh.
Join at the main Chaukhang Gompa in the centre of the town where monks
dresses in bright colorful religious robes dance slowly wearing fearful
masks around the center flagpole.
Afternoon:- Walkdown through narrow streets of Leh Bazar to enjoy the
final of the Polo Tournament which concludes in a fashionable manner.
Overnight stay at the hotel
Day
9: Leh-Delhi flight:
Early morning transfer to the domestic airport for flight to Delhi.
On arrival in Delhi transfer to the hotel. Overnight at Hotel.
Day
10: Early morning transfer to International Airport.
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