Thiksey Gustor
Thiksey monastery is located 20 km to the east of Leh. It is one of the most spectacular, grand and most visited monasteries in the region. Also known as the ‘Mini Potala’ (after H.H the Dalai Lama’s Potala Palace in Tibet), it follows the Gelugpa order founded by Je Tsongkhapa in the 15th century CE. The monastery hosts its annual festival ‘Thiksey Gustor’ on 18th and 19th of the ninth month of T....
Thiksey monastery is located 20 km to the east of Leh. It is one of the most spectacular, grand and most visited monasteries in the region. Also known as the ‘Mini Potala’ (after H.H the Dalai Lama’s Potala Palace in Tibet), it follows the Gelugpa order founded by Je Tsongkhapa in the 15th century CE. The monastery hosts its annual festival ‘Thiksey Gustor’ on 18th and 19th of the ninth month of Tibetan calendar. This year, the Thiksey Gustor festival is set to take place on November 18 and 19, 2024. It showcases Cham dance, throwing away of dho (effigy) to prevent war, misfortune, physical disaster and epidemic in the world. The Black Hat dance (Shanak Cham) is the central theme. During the festival, the monks also perform kangsol (Puja offerings) for Choskyong (the protectors of the monastery) and khagong as an increment prayer.
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Activities
The main activities of the festival includes the mask dances which are performed by the monks of monastery wearing colorful silk brocaded robes and mask in different forms of God and Goddesses. The Sand mandalas are made inside the Main Temple in the 4th, 6th and 8th months of the Tibetan calendar representing the abodes of these deities. Sand Mandalas are made using millions of grains of coloured ‘sand’ made from powdered stone placed painstakingly into intricate designs using hollow metal funnels called chagpurs. Mandalas are used as an aid to meditation, during which the monks visualize transforming themselves into the deities represented in the design. Once the initiation and meditation is complete, the mandala is destroyed illustrating the principle of the impermanence of all things.
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Organized By
Thiksey
Thiksey Rimpochee
Thiksey Monestery
01982267005
kthiksey[at]gmail[dot]com
How to reach
The nearest airport is Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport,
which is 27 KMs away.
The nearest convenient railway station is Jammu Tawi Railway Station,
which is 700 KMs away.
The nearest major city is Leh,
which is 27KMs away.
