Hemis festival

In news– Ladakh celebrated its annual Buddhist festival, Hemis, on July 8 and 9, 2022.

About the festival-

The annual Buddhist festival which celebrates the victory of good over evil is observed on the 10th day of the fifth month of the Tibetan calendar, which falls in June or July as per the Gregorian calendar.
It marks the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava, also called the ‘Second Buddha‘, and is celebrated at Hemis Gompa, a popular monastery in Ladakh.
Padmasambhava, also called Guru Rinpoche, protected the people by fighting against demons and dark forces. In this Himalayan kingdom, he introduced tantric Buddhism.
He is believed to have been born on the 10th day of the fifth month of the Monkey year as predicted by the Buddha Shakyamuni.
It is also believed that his life mission is was, and remains, to improve the spiritual condition of all living beings.
For the festival, also known as Tse-Chu, people dress up in traditional ensembles, enjoy local cuisines, and partake in various religious ceremonies.
One of the prime highlights of the festival is the ‘Cham dance‘, which is performed by some members of the Tibetan Buddhist community( lamas and monks) wearing vibrant costumes, masks, and headgears.
It is believed that each mask signifies the victory of good over evil.
‘Chang‘, a local liquor is also enjoyed during the celebrations, and exhibitions are organised that display Thangka paintings along with exquisite handicrafts and gemstones.

Hemis Gompa(Monastery)-

It is a Himalayan Buddhist monastery of the Drukpa Lineage, in Hemis, Ladakh, India.
Situated 45 km from Leh, it was re-established in 1672 by the Ladakhi king Sengge Namgyal.
The monastery of Hemis is connected with Naropa, the pupil of the yogi Tilopa, and teacher of the translator Marpa.
It is believed that Naropa and yogi Tilopa met at Hemis and together from here they proceeded to the ancient kingdom of Magadha.
Naropa was the founding father of the Kagyu-lineage of the Himalayan esoteric Buddhism. Therefore, Hemis Monastery is the main seat of the Kagyu lineage of Buddhism.