Hemis Festival of Ladakh is celebrated every year on the birth anniversary of Guru Padamsambhav. It is a two-day celebration which marks the victory of good over evil. The legend has it that Lord Padamsambhav defeated the dark forces with the help of Vajrayana Buddhism. And, therefore, the people of Ladakh celebrate the day of his birth on a huge scale. Hemis Festival 2022 dates are July 8th to July 9th. During the festival, the whole place comes to life like never before! Mark these dates so you donβt miss out on a major part of Ladakhβs culture.
Hemis festival is celebrated in the Hemis monastery which is located about 40 km to the south of Leh. The monastery is a beautiful one, even if you visit it otherwise, however, if you do happen to visit it during the festival, you are in for a visual treat. People from all the neighboring villages gather in the monastery to celebrate the birth of Guru Padmasambhava which is what this festival is all about. There are Cham dances with people wearing huge masks and colorful robes. There is local Ladakhi food, local folk music and a lot of fun going around. You would need to go early in the morning to grab yourself a good spot from where you can see the happenings in good view. The main attraction is a 40 feet painting of the guru that is unveiled from the top floor of the building during the dances.