<span style="color: #222222;">Buddhism in Ladakh has given the region a rich architectural and cultural heritage.</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">&nbsp;</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">Ladakh is very famous for its monasteries which in local language is called called Gonpas.</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">&nbsp;</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">AIR correspondent reports, Monasteries or Gonpas are living heritage which are not just religiously important places but are also one of the most visited tourist destination in Ladakh.</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">&nbsp;</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">Some of the famous monasteries in Ladakh are Thiksay, Stakna, Hemis, Spituk, Likir, Lamayuru, Phyang, Diskit, Takthok, Sani, and many other.&nbsp;</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">&nbsp;</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">Each of these Monasteries celebrates its annual festival which are very popular amongst the local people but these monastic festivals are known internationally as well.</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">&nbsp;</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">During these festivals the monks of the Monasteries performed colorful sacred Mask Dance called Cham.&nbsp;</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">&nbsp;</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">Cham is considered a form of Meditation and an offering to God.</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">&nbsp;</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">Cham dances often offer moral instruction relating to compassion for sentient beings and are held to bring merit to all who perceive them.</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">&nbsp;</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">Today is Hemis Tsechu, the annual monastic festival of Hemis Monastery.</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">&nbsp;</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">The festival is held to commemorate the birth anniversary of Padmasambhava popularly known as Guru Rinpochey.</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">&nbsp;</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">Hemis Tsechu is held in the courtyard of Hemis Monastery on the 10th and 11th of the fifth month of Tibetan calender.</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">&nbsp;</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">Hemis monastery is famed for being the largest monasteries in Ladakh.</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">&nbsp;</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">In the year 1630s Lama Staktsang Raspa under the royal patronage of Ladakh King Singay Namgyal founded this monastery which is located at distance of 40 km from Leh city.</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">&nbsp;</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">However amidst the Covid 19 pandemic this year too the Hemis Tsechu Festival is limited to only rituals.</span><br />” <b><span style="color: #222222;">&nbsp;</span></b><br />” &nbsp;<br />

<span style="color: #222222;">Buddhism in Ladakh has given the region a rich architectural and cultural heritage.</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">&nbsp;</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">Ladakh is very famous for its monasteries which in local language is called called Gonpas.</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">&nbsp;</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">AIR correspondent reports, Monasteries or Gonpas are living heritage which are not just religiously important places but are also one of the most visited tourist destination in Ladakh.</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">&nbsp;</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">Some of the famous monasteries in Ladakh are Thiksay, Stakna, Hemis, Spituk, Likir, Lamayuru, Phyang, Diskit, Takthok, Sani, and many other.&nbsp;</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">&nbsp;</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">Each of these Monasteries celebrates its annual festival which are very popular amongst the local people but these monastic festivals are known internationally as well.</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">&nbsp;</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">During these festivals the monks of the Monasteries performed colorful sacred Mask Dance called Cham.&nbsp;</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">&nbsp;</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">Cham is considered a form of Meditation and an offering to God.</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">&nbsp;</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">Cham dances often offer moral instruction relating to compassion for sentient beings and are held to bring merit to all who perceive them.</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">&nbsp;</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">Today is Hemis Tsechu, the annual monastic festival of Hemis Monastery.</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">&nbsp;</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">The festival is held to commemorate the birth anniversary of Padmasambhava popularly known as Guru Rinpochey.</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">&nbsp;</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">Hemis Tsechu is held in the courtyard of Hemis Monastery on the 10th and 11th of the fifth month of Tibetan calender.</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">&nbsp;</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">Hemis monastery is famed for being the largest monasteries in Ladakh.</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">&nbsp;</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">In the year 1630s Lama Staktsang Raspa under the royal patronage of Ladakh King Singay Namgyal founded this monastery which is located at distance of 40 km from Leh city.</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">&nbsp;</span><br />” <span style="color: #222222;">However amidst the Covid 19 pandemic this year too the Hemis Tsechu Festival is limited to only rituals.</span><br />” <b><span style="color: #222222;">&nbsp;</span></b><br />” &nbsp;<br />