Mask Dance of Ladakh – A Colorful Celebration of Life

by Vargis.Khan

The Mask dance of Ladakh during its festivals is a one of its kind experience. Some of the popular festivals of this region are Hemis, Dosmoche, Losar, Sindhu Darshan, Ladakh Festival, and Tak-Tok. Mostly all of them are annual monastic festivals and are celebrated with ritualistic prayers performed in the gompa’s courtyards.

Professional masked dancers some of which are sometimes the monks themselves dancing to drum and gongs create a memorable experience for everyone visiting the land of the lamas.

Below are a few pictures from the Ladakh festival shared by a friend who was visiting Leh during this time.

polo ground celebrations in leh

Ladakh Festival

Ladakh festival is one of the biggest festivals of Ladakh. If you want to get a true feel of Ladakhi culture, visiting here during the festive season will be the best idea.

People from all over Ladakh gather at one place in Leh and present a colorful mix of traditional music, dances, and several sports. It lasts for two weeks during the month of September.

The event is marked with a host of cultural programs, impressive masked dance performances, colorful robes and ends with matches of Polo at Polo ground in Leh. It is a great occasion displaying an amazing and colorful cultural diversity.

ladakh festival in september ladakh festival in september ladakh festival in september ladakh festival in september

These pictures are from September but there are several other festivals in other months as well. Hemis festival for example is towards the end of June. There are several other festivals even in the month of winter.

This one kind of looked a bit scary to me.

ladakh festival in septemberI love this guy’s golden hat.

ladakh festival in september

Only if expressions could kill. Whoever made this mask did a great job and so did the dancer in it.

ladakh festival in september ladakh festival in september

This costume looks like skeletons in red, don’t you think?

Mask Dance of LadakhMask Festival in Ladakh, a colorful celebration of life.

Mask Dance of Ladakh Mask Dance of Ladakh Mask Dance of Ladakh Mask Dance of Ladakh

Mask Dance of Ladakh – Conclusion

All these shots are by cell phone so unfortunately, the quality is not that great. For more information on festivals celebrated in Ladakh and their dates, please take a look at Fairs and Festivals of Ladakh. If you have any questions about the mask dance of Ladakh, please feel free to ask in the comments section below or at our Community Forum, and I will be happy to answer.

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