Two-day annual Dosmoche festival was celebrated with religious fervor on February 18 and 19.

The festival was organised by Leh Phudo (Cultural and Welfare Society).

Tsering Dorjay of Leh Phudo said that the two days festival in Leh is organised by the Leh Phu-Dho which consists of villages from Gangles to Skara.  

“Every year monasteries of Leh district take turns to perform mask dance during the festivals and the “Dhos” is prepared by the monks of the Takthok monastery. On the second day of the festival, the effigy is burned to chase away the evil spirits away”, he added. 

Observing the ritual at Chowkhang Vihara, Leh, this year the sacred mask dance ‘Chhams’ was performed by the monks of Hanley monastery, ‘Storzok’ or rituals effigy was prepared by monks of the Korzok monastery and as usual, the monks of Takthok monastery prepared the elaborated ‘DHOs’ or thread crosses.

Talking about the Hanley monastery, Ven.Nawang Namgyal, Chakzot, Hanley monastery said that Hanley Gompa is an ancient Buddhist Monastery of the Paldan Drukpa Kagyu in the Changthang region of Ladakh. The monastery was built under the patronage of King Singey Namgyal (1616-1642 C.E) with the assistance and advice of Lama Staksang Raspa. 

Talking about the parts of the mask dances, he said that the monk has performed black hat, Lobon, and Champon-Serkhem, Lamo and Gombo chams, Gombo Chardong, Chagmen chams, etc. 

The festival attracted thousands of people from various parts of Ladakh. 

On the second day of the festival, the ceremonial offering of ‘storma’ ritual effigy was burned down symbolizing to evade away all the evil spirits in the society and bringing peace and harmony among the people. 

Dosmoche festival falls on the 28th and 29th day of the 12th month of the Tibetan lunar calendar. The day was celebrated with great enthusiasm in Likir village as well.