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Cham dance during Dosmoche festival in Leh Palace -
People are enjoying games like Tambola and lotteries during festival. -
Purchasing during festival -
Second day of Dosmoche festival at Leh market
Dosmoche
In this article we are going to delve into the exciting world of Dosmoche, a topic that has sparked the interest of many people throughout history. Dosmoche is a topic that has been widely studied and numerous books and articles have been written about over the years. In this article we aim to explore the different aspects of Dosmoche, from its origin to its practical applications in everyday life. Along these lines, we will discover what Dosmoche is, what its main characteristics are and why it is important to dedicate time and attention to it. In addition, we will analyze some of the theories and debates that have arisen around Dosmoche, as well as its impact on current society. Ultimately, this article aims to provide a comprehensive and enriching vision of Dosmoche, so that the reader can expand their knowledge and understand the importance of this topic in today's world.
| Dosmoche/ Dosmochhey | |
|---|---|
 Cham dance during Dosmoche festival 2018 in Leh Palace | |
| Observed by | Buddhists |
| Type | Religious festival New year Commemoration |
| Significance | being celebrated for peace and prosperity in the coming Ladakhi new year |
| Begins | February |
| Ends | February |
| Date | 28th and 29th day of the 12th month of the Tibetan lunar calendar every year |
| Duration | 2 days |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Part of a series on |
| Tibetan Buddhism |
|---|
 |
Dosmoche is a Buddhist festival celebrated in Ladakh, India. It is celebrated in Leh, Likir and Diskit monasteries.[1] It is the last festival of New Year Celebrations, the other one is Losar.[2] The two-day Dosmoche festival is a gazetted holiday for Leh district and Zanskar Sub Division. Dosmoche is also known as the "Festival of Scapegoat" and is one of Ladakh's most popular prayer festivals.[3] This festival is also celebrated to purify the town from evil spirits.
History
Dosmoche was started by the rulers of Ladakh.[4] The festival was started during kingdom of King Lhachen Gongdup/ Lha-chen-Dnos-grub (1295–1320).[5][4] He fought two battles with invaders from Nyungti (Kullu of Himachal Pradesh) to inhibit the exterminatory forces of the battles.[4] Sacred mask dances, known as Cham dance, are carried out in the courtyard of the old chapel, below the gates of the Leh Palace.[6] Lamas are drawn from different monasteries from across Ladakh on a rotation basis for this festival.
Celebrations
 | This section's tone or style may not reflect the encyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia. (October 2022) |
High pitched sound of gyaling with the periodic sound of the cymbals echoed off the bare rocky slopes with the rhythmic beats of the drum.[4] Monks look attractive in multicoloured robes and various masks, representing various forms of deities including Buddha.[4] They danced to the beats with colorful fluttering surge to ward off evil and welcome universal peace and happiness.[4] Mask dances are an essential part of Tantric tradition of Mahayana Buddhism.[7]
At a one-kilometre stretch from Moti-Market to the other end of Leh Bazaar, thousands of stalls are also famous for a two-day long festival.[7] Thousands of people in colourful dresses converge at Leh bazaar[8] for games like tambola, lotteries and shopping.[7]
Schedule
Since Ladakh follows the Tibetan lunar calendar and Dosmoche festival comes on the twenty-eighth and twenty-ninth day of the twelfth month of the Tibetan calendar, every year the festival falls on a different date of the Gregorian calendar.[9]
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 27–28 February |
| 2015 | 17–18 February |
| 2016 | 6–7 February |
| 2017 | 24–25 February |
| 2018 | 13–14 February |
| 2019 | 2–3 February |
| 2020 | 21–22 February |
| 2021 | 12–13 February |
| 2022 | 28 February - 1 March |
| 2023 | 18–19 February |
Gallery
Dosmoche Festival
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dosmoche Festival.
- ^ "Leh, Likir Dosmoche begins". Retrieved 3 March 2018.
- ^ "Dosmoche Festival". Retrieved 3 March 2018.
- ^ "Dosmoche: Festival of the Scapegoat". Ladakh-Leh.com. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f "Ladakh celebrates winter festival of 'Dosmoche'". Retrieved 3 March 2018.
- ^ Antiquities of Indian Tibet. Asian Educational Services. 1992. pp. 98–. ISBN 978-81-206-0769-9.
- ^ "Likir Festival in Likir Gompa". india.com. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
- ^ a b c "'Leh, Likir Dosmoche begins'". Retrieved 3 March 2018.
- ^ Usha Sharma (1 January 2008). Festivals In Indian Society (2 Vols. Set). Mittal Publications. pp. 107–. ISBN 978-81-8324-113-7.
- ^ "Calendar of Monastic festival". Leh official website. Retrieved 1 March 2018.