LEH: Celebrations and jubilations filled the air in Ladakh as the two-day-long Hemis festival (Hemis Tses-Chu) commenced here on Wednesday.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor of LAHDC Leh, Tashi Gyalson, graced the grand celebration of the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava’s at Hemis Gompa (Monastery) here today.
Dignitaries led by Gyalson and Member of Parliament from Ladakh, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal; Executive Councillors and Councillors of LAHDC Leh attended Hemis Festival and extended warm wishes to His Eminence Drukpa Thuksey Rinpoche, Chakzot Hemis and all the Venerable monks and people of Hemis, as well as Leh district.
The main highlight of the Hemis festival, Cham Dance and other traditional dances are performed in Hemis Monastery on the beats of drums and cymbals and on the tunes of long pipe-like Tibetan music instruments.
All Cham dance was performed by Lamas around the central flagpole which is located in the monastery’s courtyard. Giant thangkas (Buddhist Paintings ) are unfurled for the public. .
Thousands of spectators amidst religious festivity mood thronged the Ladakh’s biggest monastery to witness the spectacular mask dances performed by the monks with the rhythmic beat of religious musical instruments while chanting prayers to bring peace, prosperity and harmony in the society.
Other distinguished attendees were Secretaries of UT Ladakh; Presidents of different organisations LBA,LGA etc representatives from political organisations, HoDs and large number of Indian and foreign tourists were present to witness the festival.
