The Background
One
of the most famous festivals in June to celebrate the birth of guru
Padmsambhava.(Gur Rimpoche), the founder of Tantric Buddhism in Tibet and
venerated as the representative reincarnate of Buddha. The sacred dance
drama of the life and mission is performed at Hemis Gompa located at a
distance of 45 kms from Leh, the capital of Ladakh wearing facial masks and
colourful brocades robes.
Hemis Gompa is known as the Chang-Chub-sam-Ling, the solitary place of the
Compassionate One. This dance drama depicts the destroying the evil forces
and the celebration of good over evil. However, there is a difference of
opinion among lamas about this interpretation.
This 200 years old tradition was introduced by a member of Ladakh's ruling
family who was reincarnated in the 18th century as the monastry's Head Lama,
Sras Rimpoche.
This was built in 1630 during the reign of Sengge Namgyal, an illustrious
rular of Ladakh. It florished under the Namgyal dynesty for the royalty
favoured the Drugpa sect, which managed the monestry. The temple is known as
Tshogkhang.
The celebration
This
three day festival is celebrated from 9th to 11th date of the month. He is
believed to to have been born on the 10th day of the fifth month of the
Monkey year as predicted by the Shakia Muni Buddha. The mission of his life
was and remains to improve the spiritual condition of all living beings.
During the monkey year festival which comes after every 12 years, the four
storied Thanka of the gurus hung in the country yard and other precious
thankas are also exebited). This festival is celebrated in memory of the
respected guru and said to give spiritual strength and good health.
This festival takes place in the rectengular country yard in front of the
main door of the monestry. A special musical instrument (Three meter long
brass trumpets) is played during the Chham dances. The Chham dancers perform
around the central flag pole wearing colourful costumes and masks. The
dances end with the ritual destruction of of a sacrificial offering of a
human figure made of dough by the leader of the Black Hat dancers.
Rimpoche or the head lama precides over the function. The lamas recite
mantras associated with the various episodes of the Chhams. It is written in
the Padma Katang, the prophecy of Guru Padmasambhava, that on this day the
faithful and the sincere devotees will actually be blessed by alive vision
of the Guru himself.
The Rainbow
This festival has a specific social dimension. Tse Shoe, as the festival is
known locally is one of the rare occassions, when almost every localite
gathers here and interacts with each other.The so-called devil dances
contitute an important element in the social entertainment of the society.
The loaclites enjoy cosuming 'Chang' or country liquer of Ladakh during all
this period.
Ajanta
Caves 
Ajanta
Ellora Excursion
