Ladakh is a region blessed abundantly with the most scenic vistas of the rolling

hills, barren landscape and colourful Buddhist prayer flags

fluttering along the roadside, therefore offering the best festivals of Ladakh.
The region experiences the best climate of cold winters with
snow all around forming a picturesque white desert and a pristine summer making it
ideal to roam about freely in warmer temperatures to
even get a view of the beautiful Buddhist region and Indus Valley from high up in
the passes. Also known as �Mini Tibet�, Ladakh is an
abode for the Buddhist culture and way of life in India and has a number of
monasteries to testify to this.

These monasteries perched atop, with large and intricately built Buddha statues and
ancient scriptures a sight to see from even far away.
The rich cultural heritage here along with the pompously celebrated monastic
festivals of Ladakh attract visitors from all over the globe to
come to experience these unique and joyous celebrations. The festivals of Ladakh
are a living testament to the enclosed and solitary life of
the monks, but when they celebrate the whole village and region is decorated and
set up to welcome the festivities. Monks and priests
perform the sacred masked dances and offer prayers up to the deities, sometimes
even sacrifices and food offerings are presented to the Gods.

Hemis Festival, Losar Festival, Sindhu Darshan, Phyang Tsedup Festival, Dosmoche
Festival, Saka Dawa Festival, Tak Tok Festival,
Matho Nagrang Festival, Ladakh Festival and many more.

A distinct tradition of these monastic festivals are the oracles who are young
monks or local people chosen to live a while in solitude and
deep meditation after which they are possessed by the spirit of the Gods. The
Ladakhi people firmly believe in their power of predictions
against any natural calamity or event to take place in the near future. With dance
performances by the priests and even local people, a lot
of sports event also takes place during this time. Sports like Archery and Polo
are organised for the men and they participate in it with
great zeal and fervour to win the cup. The women take part in dancing and
traditional folklore songs to keep the event lively and
entertaining, dressed in vibrant colours and heavy silver jewellery.