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Dosmoche: Ladakh celebrates festival

          Leh: Dosmoche, the winter festival of mountainous Ladakh, has concluded. Buddhists believe the annual ritual could ward off evil spirits and natural calamities. During the festival monks and the largely Buddhist population of the cold desert region come together to chant away the evil spirits. All monasteries from Leh, Nubra and Likir participate in the festival.

       Though Ladakh has a host of festivals sprinkled around the year, 'Dosmoche' is the only festival celebrated by all the monasteries. "It is celebrated once in a year. All the lamas and other monks from all over Ladakh congregate here 15 days before the celebration starts and pray throughout the year so that there is peace all over," said Tsering Namgyal, a Buddhist monk. The main ritual of the festival is the burning of a colourful structure, basically made of thread.

        "Dos" is symbolic of the sacred ritual traditionally performed by the monks of Tuk Thog monastery at the shrine on the foothills of the Namgyal Palace, home of Ladakh's royal family. The rituals are accompanied by mask dances in the courtyard. These dances are alternately performed by monks of various monasteries. The two-day festival is also a huge draw for visitors to the area. The festival also offers the younger lot the opportunity to hang out in the markets, many of which are put up especially for the festival. For the elders, the festival is nothing short of a great pilgrimage for which they come from remote areas.
- February 29, 2004