-
Hemis Festival: The dance of the monks
The main temple complex swelled with the music of gongs and horns. The head lama sat at the highest elevation. It was 7.30 AM. Monks clad in yellow robes and traditional red drikung kagyu hats sat on cushioned benches. The wooden artistry of the monastery was adorned with thangkas. The walls were painted with the teachings and stories of Lord Budhha. The hall was reverberating with mystical chants. A white ceremonial scarf known as khata was passed on from a devotee to the presiding monk. Tourists are allowed to observe the puja but clicking photos and videos are not allowed. But the monks don’t enforce this strictly and tourists appeared…
-
Hemis Monastery Guest House: How it feels like to stay in a monastery for a day
We stayed at the Hemis Monastery guest house for a night on the eve of the famous Hemis Festival. Read to know more about how it feels to live within a monastic complex in the remote Himalayas.