The culture of the Ladakhi people is an interesting mix of Tibetan and other customs. Strongly influenced by Tibetan Buddhism, the Ladakhis are a hard working honest lot. Weaving cloth from wool acquired from Yak and goats has been a traditional occupation; in some regions metal work is an important craft. However agriculture and raising livestock seem to have been main occupations providing clothing, shelter, and food. Having cheerfully adapted to the harsh weather and austere living conditions the Ladakhis are now easily merging with modern attitudes without compromising on their traditional customs and faith. Being an extension of Tibet, most of their religious influences have been of Tibetan origin. Sturdy and easily adaptable by nature, Ladakhis are a warm and hospitable simple people and on our culture tours we take you visiting traditional Ladakhi homes and villages, ancient monasteries and interact with the nomadic Changpa herdsmen.
Our culture tours are designed in such a way as to have no or at the most a very low impact on the Ladakhi's lifestyle. Our emphasis is to encourage buying of local produce and handicrafts that directly economically benefit the local people. We employ local staff and encourage their development without intruding on their beliefs and faith.

Our culture tours have been specifically designed to share the most detailed factors that showcase the traditions and customs of the different communities that co exist in admirable harmony in Ladakh. These tours range from 2 to 10 day exploratory journeys. As monasteries are the most important influence in a Ladakhi's life we visit some of the more famous ones on special occasions where you get to see religious rites and masked dances. A visit to the villages of the pure Aryan Dha Hanu community is one of our more popular culture tours as is the brief stay with the Changpa nomads. Visits to the major monasteries accompanied by a knowledgeable guide who can explain the intricacies of Ladakhi customs and traditions is an intrinsic part of our culture tours and these Gompas include - Hemis, Shey, Stok, Thikse, Spituk, Alchi, the Zanskari Gompas of Rangdum and Zangla. 

DOSMOCHE - Masked dances in the Royal Courtyard.

An ancient tradition started by the Kings of Ladakh, Dosmoche is still celebrated every year in February with great pomp and favour. The courtyard of the chapel below the gates of the Leh place comes alive with the music of drums and the thumping steps of the masked Lamas from different monasteries performing the sacred dance-drama. The Lamas prepare, consecrate and eventually destroy the sacrificial offerings as the climax.

The Tantra of 'DO'

The Lamas from the Takthok Monastery, the only Nyingmapa foundation of Ladakh, who are experts in tantric practice and astrology, prepare the elaborate 'DO' or Thread Crosses - the main objects of offering, which ensnare all the evil spirits, hungry ghosts and demonic forces when the prescribed mantras are recited and requisite rites observed by the Lamas.

The festive procession

Ten other kinds of offerings, of different shapes and sizes, complement the main offering. These are brought down from the main venue and carried through the main bazaar.

Black Hat dancers, followed by the lamas in their religious costumes and the local people in their resplendent best, make this a spectacular procession. Musicians and the monastic orchestra lead the way. Outside the town, the offering are burnt and destroyed with great fanfare to wish away all evil spirits and guard against natural calamities and disasters in the coming year.

Dosmoche celebrations are also held in the Likir ( Indus valley ) and Deksit  ( Nubra valley ) monasteries. In Deksit, a number of folk dances are performed as interludes to the 'Chhams'.

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GALDAN NAMCHOT- Tsongkhapa's Birthday and Buddhahood

This socio-religious event is celebrated to observe the birthday and the Buddhahood of Tsongkhapa-the Tibetan saint-scholar who founded the Gelukpa school of Tibetan Buddhism during the 14th century. The Gelukpa school later developed as the dominant monastic order in Central. Tibet.

The festivities include illumination of all monastic, public and residential buildings throughout Ladakh.

Namchot heralds the beginning of the New Year celebrations which continue till the festival of Dosmoche. During this festival, it is customary to prepare various varieties of the traditional dishes, 'Thukpa' in every home to be served to visiting friends and relatives to mark celebration of the festival.

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LOSAR

This New Year festival has an interesting history. In the 17th century,
King Jamyang Namgyal decided to lead an expedition against the Balti
forces during Winter. He was advised that any expedition before the
New Year would be inauspicious. Like Alexander's solution was direct
and simple. He advanced the New Year celebrations by two months,
establishing a tradition that people still follow - celebration of Losar on
the first day of the eleventh month of every year.

Blending Buddhism with Bonism
Losar is the most elaborate of all the socio-religious events of Ladakh. It involves the entire population of the region. Interestingly, the rites and rituals are a mixture of Buddhist and the pre- Buddhist Bon religious practices.

Preparations start by the end of the harvest period when people start stocking provisions, sheep and goats for the customary feasts as well as grain for brewing 'Chang' (a local barley beer). New clothes and jewellery are kept ready for the occasion.

Lights and Feasting
The festivities start on the 29th day of the 10th month with the illumination of buildings and shrines. Sheep and goats reserved for the occasion are ritually slaughtered to begin the series of evening feasts for all relatives by rotation.

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MATHO NAGRANG
The festival of the blindfolded acrobatic oracle monks.

On the 15th day of the 1st Tibetan month, a 2-day festival is held at the Matho Monastery - the only Saskyapa monastic establishment in Ladakh.

During this festival, the two oracles of the monastery make a public appearance in their full spiritual form. These oracles, actually monks of the monastery, meditate in complete isolation for a full month in preparation of entering in a state of trance and invoking the spirit of the deities.


On the day the festival, they invoke and receive the deities and come into their full spiritual trance. They run over the high rise ramparts of the monastery, jump from one balcony to another and execute a number of acrobatic feats, all while blindfolded !

People from far and wide come to hear the oracles predict key future events and seek answers about their own future.

Ritual and warmth
The New Year day itself starts with the offering of votives and greetings to various gods, elders, relatives and friends. Afterwards, the elders await the customary visitors who come to greet the family with present and 'Khatak' (ceremonial scarf). The younger members go out to visit other families. Leh and its adjoining villages wear a carnival look as people come out in their colourful best. It is customary for the Muslims and Christians in Leh to visit their Buddhist friends and greet them on the eve of Losar.

Guardians of prosperity
Images of ibex and other auspicious symbols are put on the door, walls of the kitchen and the top-and of its central wooden column. The ibex is a symbol of fertility and is believed to bring prosperity. Small images of ibex molded from dough are arranged on kitchen shelves to add to the good luck.

The procession of fire
In the evening , the 'metho' ceremony takes place. The bazaars of Leh and
the streets of villages get lit up as processions bearing flaming torches pass through with the people chanting slogans to chase out evil spirits and hungry ghosts the result of bad Karma (one's deeds). Whirling torches create a fantastic display of fire and light. At the end of it all, the torches are thrown well outside the town to bid farewell to the old year and to welcome the new one.

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