| Explore the rich culture of Ladakh, during the grand | | | | Thanka, a religious painting is put on display. Thanka is |
| celebrations of Hemis festival. Globetrotters shouldn't | | | | treasured in the Hemis Monastery and people can |
| miss the chance to have a glimpse of this memorable | | | | have the glimpse of this exquisite painting once in a |
| festival, held at the largest Buddhist monastery in | | | | twelve years. Other prime attraction of the festival is |
| Ladakh. The festival falls on the tenth day of the | | | | the colorful fair, displaying some unique handicrafts of |
| Tibetan Lunar month. It is celebrated after every 12 | | | | the Ladakh region. |
| years in the Tibetan year of the Monkey. | | | | Hemis festival is celebrated in the rectangular |
| The cultural entourage shines in this festival of Ladakh. | | | | courtyard of the Hemis monastery. The monastery is |
| This mosaic festival of Ladakh is associated with an | | | | the largest monastery of Ladakh, built in 1630. The |
| interesting legend. It is believed that Guru | | | | ceremony begins with an early morning ritual, |
| Padmasambhava, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism | | | | accompanied with the beat of musical instruments like |
| fought with devil to save the local people. The festival | | | | cymbals, drums and the spiritual wail of pipes. A |
| also symbolizes the victory of good over the evil. | | | | portrait of "Rygyalsras Rimpoche" or "Dadmokarpo" is |
| The festival is marked with a mystic mask-dance | | | | then put on display for the people. The festival turns |
| performance of lamas. It symbolizes the end of evil | | | | out to be more lively with the traditional music played |
| spirits and now it time to welcome the prosperous | | | | by the musician. Music is produced with the use of |
| future and happy living. As the dance performance | | | | various musical instruments including large-pan drums, |
| ends, an idol made of dough is destroyed by the head | | | | four pairs of cymbals, trumpets and other large size |
| of black hat dancers. The fragmented pieces of the | | | | wind instruments. |
| idol are spread in all four directions. After that, there | | | | Join in the grand Hemis festival, to treasure some life |
| also a devil dance performed for the entertainment of | | | | time memories. |
| the visitors. On this auspicious occasion, an age-old | | | | |