How Ladakh got its New Year: 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 celebrating 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-Bhuddhist 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
months 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.
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 presents 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 Christian 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-end of is
central wooden column. The ibex is a symbol of fertility and is
believed to bring prosperity. Small images of ibex moulded 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.
GALDDAN NAMCHOT: Tsongkhapa's Birthday and Buddhahood:This
socio-religious event is celebrated to observe the birthday and the
Buddhahood or 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 dish, 'Thukpa' in every home to
be served to visiting friends and relatives to mark celebration of the
festival.
Day by day itinerary:
Day 01: Arrival at Leh airport and transfer to Hotel. Rest
Day 02 Half day sightseeing to Sankar Gompa, Shanti Stupa, Leh Palace.
In the evening, visitors will witness the Hashalo (swinging of a fire
ball tied to a long string by all the youth) celebration
Day 03 Drive to Saboo village to visit local houses to greet Losar.
Day 04 Full day sightseeing to Shey palace, Thiksey and Hemis Gompas
and back to hotel
Day 05 Losar celebration begins at Hemis Shukpachan, which is about 70
kilometers from Leh. Night stay will be at the same village in a guest
house.
Day 06 Visit to Rizong monastery in taxi. Rizong monastery is the only
monastery with no annual mask dance festival. However, it focuses more
on individual practices. It is relatively a new monastery - about over
100 years old. A nunnery is there on the way to Rizong, which is
reached by a little trek through a gorge and back to Guesthouse at
Hemisshokpachan.
Day 07 Cultural song and dances besides others rituals in Hemis
Shukpachan.
Day 08 Sightseeing to Lamayuru and Alchi and back to GuestHouse.
Day 09 Drive back to Leh while visiting Phyang and Spituk monasteries
on the way. Night stay in Leh
Day 10 Full day sightseeing in Chemdey and Takthok monasteries about
45 kilometers from Leh
Day 11 Full day relaxtion/ leisure in Leh
Day 12 Transfer to Leh airport and fly back to Delhi
The Ladakh Losar program can be modified to fit in visit Agra ( Taj
Mahal & Rajestan tour for 5-7 days).
