Ladakh, a small and beautiful state in the lap of Himalayas in India. This state easily attracts tourists from the country and the world with its natural and cultural qualities. Ladakh is the first favorite destination for tourists during summer and monsoon season. The culture, lifestyle and food habits here are very different from other regions of the country. Tourists from all over the world come specially to see the ‘Hemis Festival’ of Ladakh.
The ‘Hemis Festival’ is celebrated with great pomp every year on the tenth day of the Tibetan lunar month Tse-Chu. The Hemis festival is celebrated for two days to mark the birth anniversary of Buddhist Guru Padmasambhava. Hemis Monastery is specially decorated with colorful clothes and flowers for this festival.
The local people of Ladakh gather at Hemis Math dressed in their traditional colorful clothes and masks on their faces and dance to the beat of drums, cymbals and horns. Various entertainment programs are also organized on this occasion to attract tourists. For this festival, the lamas of the monastery wear special costumes that include long robes, attractive masks and crowns on the head.
Ladakh is also called mini Tibet. Most of the people who follow Buddhism in India live in this area. For this reason Hemis festival is the biggest and most important festival of Ladakh. During the Hemis festival, domestic and foreign tourists get a chance to get to know and understand Buddhism closely.
Hemis festival is a blend of history, culture, spirituality and entertainment of Ladakh. The festival marks the birthday of Buddhist saint Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche in Tibet, who was the spiritual leader of Buddhism. It is believed to have protected Ladakh from evil spirits in the 8th century. Hemis festival is celebrated in Ladakh as the victory of good over evil.
Preparation for Hemis Festival
People of Ladakh start preparations for the ‘Hamis Festival’ several weeks in advance. They practice the dances performed on this occasion, decorate the Hemis Math, make special arrangements for cleanliness and food to attract local and foreign tourists who come for the festival.
On the day of the Hemis festival, the festival formally begins at sunrise at the Hemis monastery. Buddhists from all over Ladakh gather at the Hemis Math and participate in various cultural and religious activities along with graceful dances. During this time the entire city of Hemis Gompa appears immersed in festivities.
How to reach Ladakh
Route Route: There are two ways to reach Leh Ladakh, first via Srinagar in Kashmir, this highway is very good. The distance from Srinagar to Leh is about 420 kilometers, which can be easily covered in about 11 hours. The distance from Manali to Leh is about 430 km, this road can also be completed in 11 hours. During this time, tourists get to see breathtaking natural views along the entire route. Most of the people who come to Leh come in their own vehicles so that they can stay here and enjoy the beautiful view.
Railway Tracks: Leh-Ladakh: The nearest railway station to reach Leh is Jammu Tawi, which is about 670 km from Leh. Leh can be reached in around 15-16 hours by private taxi from Jammu. Jammu Rajdhani Express, Uttar Sikran Kranti Express, Jhelum Express, Malwa Express, Pooja Express and many more trains run from Delhi to Jammu.
Air Shaft: Leh Airport in Ladakh has direct flights to Delhi. It takes about 1.30 hours to reach Leh from Delhi. Which is the easiest way to reach Leh. But tourists do not get a view of the road while coming in the plane.
