The two day Hemis Festival is one of the oldest religious carnivals of Ladakh, in far northern India. It commemorates the birth of Guru Padmasambhava, who founded Tantric Buddhism in Tibet. The festival is held at the 300-year-old Buddhist monastery of Hemis Jangchub Choling, near Leh. It's the biggest and richest Buddhist monastery in Ladakh. The setting of the monastery is stunning. It's located at an altitude of nearly 12,000 feet, overlooking the Indus river and surrounded by snow-capped peaks.
The Hemis festival is held every year in June or July. It features traditional music, colorful masked dances, and a fair full of striking handicrafts.
As these Hemis Festival photos show, it's truly a spectacular event.
Photos courtesy of www.flickr.com user madpai
Images 1-7 of 7
 Hemis Monastery |  Hemis Festival Parade |  Hemis Festival Parade Close-Up |  Hemis Festival Clowns |
 Hemis Monastery Performers |  Hemis Monastery Festival |  Hemis Festival Dance |
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