Hemis Festival
Introduction to Hemis Tse-Chu
The Hemis Tse Chu is the largest and the most popular festival in Ladakh. It is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Guru Padmasambhava who according to a legend fought with demons to save the people of Ladakh. Time of Celebration of Hemis Tse Chu:
The Hemis is celebrated on the 10th day (Tses- Chu) of the Tibetan lunar month which is hailed as the birthday of Padmasambhava (Guru Rimpoche), the founder of Tibetan Buddhism. The Hemis Monastery celebrates this event in the form of a 2 day festival. This year , the festival will be start from June 20.
Description of Hemis Tse Chu Festival
The resident Lamas of the Hemis Monastery perform sacred masked dances leading to the destruction of the sacrificial offerings. Masks that the lamas wear represent various guardian divinities of the Dugpa order, of which Hemis is the leading establishment in Ladakh.
This 200 year-old tradition was introduced by a member of Ladakh's ruling family who was reincarnated in the 18th century as the monastery's Head lama, 'Sras Rimpoche'. The Hemis dances are a re-enactment of the believed and revered magical feats of Padmasambhava, in his services to the cause of Buddhism. He is believed to have appeared in eight different manifestations.
| Fairs and Festivals in Jammu and Kashmir |
| more Fairs and Festivals in Jammu and Kashmir... |
The Hemis festival takes on an auspicious hue every 12 years in the Tibetan Year of the Monkey, when the two-storey high 'Thankga' depicting Padmasambhava is displayed. This famous Thankga, richly embroidered with pearls and semi-precious stones, on rich brightly colored silk, is due to be displayed next in AD 2016.
As the Hemis festival is held during the peak summer season, it attracts the largest number of people from within and outside Ladakh. Indianholiday.com provides detailed, online information on the Hemis Tse Chu as well as for other fairs and festivals in Ladakh and other parts of India and also offers online booking for tour packages to Ladakh during Hemis Tse Chu.
| Festivals in June 2012 |
| Festival Name | Festivals Day/Date |
| Hazarat Ali's Birthday | 4 Jun, Monday |
| World Environment Day | 5 Jun, Tuesday |
| Gayatri Jayanti | 11 Jun, Monday |
| Shab E Miraj | 17 Jun, Sunday |
| Father's Day | 17 Jun, Sunday |
| World Sun/ Solar Day | 21 Jun, Thursday |
| Jagannath Rath Yatra | 21 Jun, Thursday |
| Sao Joao Feast of St John the Baptist | 24 Jun, Sunday |
| Bankim Chandra's Birthday | 27 Jun, Wednesday |
| Hemis Festival | 29 - 30 Jun, Friday-Saturday |
| Devshayani Ekadashi | 30 Jun, Saturday |
| Start of Chaturmaas period | 30 Jun, Saturday |
| Shimla Summer Festival | 1st Week of June |
| Sindhu Darshan Festival | June |
| Mahesh Navmi | June |
