Fairs & Festivals in Ladakh [Month by Month Calendar Guide]

Ladakh, the land of high passes, knows how to celebrate. And, by experiencing their festivals, you’ll realize they do so in major style! Now, the best way to immerse yourself in the history and culture of a place is to partake in festivals and fairs.

Also, once you’re in the Land of the Lamas, you need to be prepared to party– people here are happy, fun, and always down to celebrate. From Polo and archery to dances and history, when it comes to festivities – Ladakh has you covered.

While we have already covered an extensive list of festivals in the Spiti Valley region, read on for an extensive list of festivals celebrated in Ladakh and their significance!

Festivals in Ladakh – Upcoming Dates & Places

This table provides you the Ladakh festival dates in the year 2019 and 2020. You can check the below dates calendar schedule of festivals in Ladakh and plan your upcoming Ladakh trip to include these festivities too.

Ladakh Festival Dates 2020 2021

1. Dosmochey Festival

Dosmochey is observed in Lower Ladakh’s Liker, Leh Palace and the Diskit Monastery in Nubra. This festival is celebrated in the month of February (or 28th and 29th day of the twelfth month Tibetan calendar). This festival marks the last celebration associated with a particular year. Literally translating to the “Festival of Scapegoat”, Dosmochey is a popular Ladakhi prayer festival.

Started by the rulers of Ladakh in the 13th Century, the kingdom of King Lhachen Gongdup celebrated the Dosmochey festival for the first time. Leh Palace is the most popular location for this celebration, as this is where the celebrations initially began. The venue for the two-day festival in the courtyard of the palace. And, of course, the monks and Lamas perform the chamm dance, which is rotated between various monasteries yearly.

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On the 2nd day, the offerings from various monasteries, followers, and visitors are taken out and burnt in a procession while the locals whistle to ward away the evil spirits.

2. Yargon Tungshak Festival

Nubra Valley celebrates Yargon Tungshak, a true blue winter festival, in the month of February. As Nubra is a high altitude desert, winter months are harsh. Still, performers dress up in their best attires and wear the most elaborate masks to put up some enthralling performances.

Also, the music is strictly local, and the low-level syllables accompanied by strange melodies will have you hooked. Some stunning dishes like Gurgur Cha, Skyu and Thupka are served. And lastly, the monastery holds a grand prayer meet, wherein the devotees chant Sanskrit and Tibetan mantras.

3. Stok Guru Tsechu Festival

Third, on the list of Ladakh Festivals is the Stok Guru Tsechu festival.

Falling in February commences on a ninth day after the Tibetan New Year, Stok Guru Tsechu marks the 2-day celebration where monks of Spituk and Stok monasteries take part in festivities, performing mask dances. The biggest differentiator of this festival from other places of observance is that common men and villagers participate integrally in the festival.

Two common men from the nearby villages are assigned by the monks to be recipients of the spirit of the deities each year. The men are known as oracles, once the monks designate the locals. Both Oracles visit the monasteries, wherein they pass on integral messages from the Gods.

Key attractions include the different traditions followed here from other similar festivals, especially of commoners’ involvement in the festivities. Also, another major attraction during the festival is the masked dances – as is symbolic of most Buddhist festivals.

4. Matho Nagrang Festival

Matho Monastery near Leh celebrated the Matho Nagrang Festival, immediately after the Stok Guru Festival. The two-day Matho Nagrang festival falls on the 15th day of the first month of the Tibetan calendar. The lone Gompa of this monastery fervently represents the Sakya School of Tibetan Buddhism.

As is customary to Buddhism, monks wear colorful brocade and silk robes during the festival and perform masked dances. These masks are the depiction of Gods and Goddesses in Buddhism.

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Similar to Stok Guru, there are also two oracles in attendance for the event. However, the oracles need to complete a month of meditation in the wilderness before the event. With extreme weather conditions in the winter months, this clearly shows the dedication and belief in the faith that people have!

The oracles provide words of wisdom and an insight into the future, presenting future predictions. Locals and villagers alike flock to the Monastery to understand ways of keeping evil at bay.

5. Saka Dawa Festival

Next on the list of festivals in Ladakh is Saka Dawa Festival.

Saka translates to the “name of the closest star to earth”, which is clearly visible during the festival. Celebrated on the full moon of the 4th month of the Tibetan Calendar, Saka Dawa symbolizes the birth of Sakyamuni (Gautam Buddha) as when he attained enlightenment and subsequently Parinirvana.

On this holiest of days as per Tibetan Buddhism, the monks across Ladakh and other regions change the Tarboche flag pole, which lies at the South of the mountain, Kailash Kora. It is if the changed flag stays erect then it is very auspicious for the Tibetans. The most revered day for Buddhists, this is the day that marks the birth of their faith and lifting of everyone’s life into spirituality.

Also, during this period, the region revered through the chanting of “Om Mani Padme Hum” . Also, usually, people refrain from killing and eating animals during the day. These ideologies for a part of the eight Mahayana precepts. If you’re in the region during this time, experiencing the reverence of Buddha and learning of His ideologies will make you more appreciative in life.