The monastic festivals provide the average Ladakhi with a spice of life, as no other festival can match them in religious and entertainment value. Monastic festivals are held to commemorate the founding of a monastery, the birthday of its patron saint, or major events in the evolution of Tibetan Buddhism. Thousands of people turn out in their colourful best, making every festival a carnival of colours.

EXPERIENCE THE POWER OF 'CHHAMS'
Chhams, a highly choreographed sacred dance drama, is the core of every monastic festival. A select group of resident lamas, in brightly patterned brocade robes, perform these dances in the courtyard of the monastery. All of them wear masks which represent various divinities found in the 'Gon Khang' - the room dedicated to the guardian divinities - in every major monastery. Some may even represent characters from historical episodes of Tibetan fables.

Holding ritual objects in their hands, the lamas step around the central flagpole of the monastic courtyard in solemn dance and mime, accompanied by the clash of cymbals, the boom of drums, the melodious sound of the 'Shawm', and the deep resonance of twelve-foot horns.

The beginning: Every dance begins with 'Ser Kyem' - an invocation - by offerings of sacred water and food, to the gods and the guardians of the four quarters to witness the 'Chhams'.

The interludes: In between the more sombre dances, relief is provided by performers in the guise of skeletons, who perform comic and acrobatic feats.

And at last, the end of evil: As the 'Chhams' approaches climax, the votive offering - a grotesque human figure made of dough - is ritually dismembered. This is traditionally done by 'Jha Nak', leader of the Black Hat dancers. He then scatters the pieces in the four cardinal directions. This act has many interpretations: cleansing of the soul; the dissolution of the human body after death; or a re-enactment of the assassination of the Tibetan apostate king, Land-dar-ma, by a Buddhist monk in 842 AD.

Of this life and the next: The rites and ceremonies of the festival are conducted by the 'Rimpoche', or Head Lama incarnate, of the monastery. He occupies a high throne in the centre of the veranda, at one side of the rectangular courtyard. Other Lamas sit on either side of the throne, on carpet-covered straw mattresses, according to their hierarchy.

Under the Rimpoche's direction, the Lamas recite mantras associated with various episodes of 'Chhams', thus creating the right ambience for devotees to imbibe the religious significance of the dances. The appearance of the masked dancers serves to familiarise the devotees with the kind of divinities they are to encounter during the 49-day 'Bardo' (or transit) period, between death and rebirth in one of the six forms of existence, depending upon one's Karma (deeds).

CALANDER ( 2007-2008)

FESTIVALS	VENUE	2008	2009	2010	2011
Spitok Gustor	Spituk	JAN 6,7	JAN 23,24	JAN 12,13	JAN 2,3
Dosmoche	Leh ,Likir & Deskit Monasteries	FEB 4,5	FEB 22,23	FEB 11,12	MAR 2,3
Stok Guru Tse-Cue	Stok Monastery	FEB 15,16	MAR 5,6	FEB 23,24	MAR 14,15
Matho Nagrang	Matho Monastery	FEB 20,21	MAR 10,11	FEB 27,28	MAR 17,18
Buddha Purnima	Leh	MAY 18	JUNE 7	MAY 27	JUNE 15
Hemis TSE-CHU	Hemis Monastery	JUL 12,13	JUL 2,3	JUN 21,22	JUL 10,11
Yuru Kabgyat (Lamayuru)	Lamayuru Monastery	JUN 30 JUL1	JUN 20,21	JUNE 9,10	JUN 28,29
Zanskar Karsha Gustor	Karsha Monastery	JUL 29,30	JUL 19,20	JUL 8,9	JUL 27,28
Ph-Yang Tsedup (Phyang)	Phyang Monastery	JUL 30,31	JUL 24,25	JUL 13,14	AUG 1, 2
Korzok Gustor (Tsomoriri Lake)	Korzok Monastery	AUG 4,5	JUL 25,26	JUL 14,15	AUG 2,3
Dak-Thok Tse-Chu	Dakthok Monastery	AUG 11,12	JUL 31, AUG 1	JUL 20,21	AUG 8,9
Sant Naro Nasjal (Zangskar)	Sani Monastery, Zanskar	AUG 15,16	AUG 4,5	JUL 24,25	AUG 12,13
Shachukul Gustor	Shachukul Monastery	JUL 30,31	JUL 20,21	JUL 9,10	JUL 28,29
Thiksay Gustor	Thiksey Monastery	NOV 15,16	NOV 5,6	OCT 25,26	NOV 13,14
Chemrey Angchok	Chemrey Monastery	NOV 25,26	NOV 14,15	NOV 4,5	NOV 23,24
Galdan Namchot	All Over Ladakh	DEC 21	DEC 10	NOV 30	DEC 20
Losar	All over Ladakh	DEC 28	DEC 17	DEC 6	DEC 25
SOURCE: J & K Tourism