Hemis Gompa
IntroductionHemis (Tsche) Festival is observed every year in Ladakh to celebrate the birth anniversary of the Founder of Tibetan Buddhism, Guru Rimpoche. The spectacular Hemis Festival is performed at the Hemis Gompa, which is surrounded by mountain rocks and concealed inside the Hemis National Park. It is the wealthiest, biggest and best-known 'Gompa' of Ladakh. Also known as Chang Chub Sam Ling or "the lone place of the compassionate person."
Founded 350 years ago by Stagtshang Rinchen, who was invited to Ladakh by king Singe Namgyal, it was built on the Tibetan style of architecture. It flourished under the Namgyal dynasty for the royalty favoured the Drukpa sect, which managed the monastery. It belongs to the Drupka order since direct Lineal Descent exists with the Buddhism practiced at the Hemis and the Drukpa School of Tibetan Buddhism. Humis Gompa have fortunately withstood plunders unlike other Gompas.
Hemis-Tsche is an annual festival held from 9th to 11th day of the 5th Tibetan month (June-July) to celebrate the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava. (Guru Rimpoche, Founder of Tibetan Buddhism) Dance festivals are held to eulogize the triumph of good over evil in an all-colourful show. Traditionally, it includes sacred masked dances performed by resident Lamas symbolizing the destruction of evil forces.
Thangka, a religious scroll painted and embroidered on silk cloth and pearls is significantly exhibited once in every twelve years. The exhibition of Thangka is a magnetic pull to the Buddhist world and a chance of pilgrimage to witness the holy dance and sacred roll of the thangka. Masked men dance to the sound of drums and horns. Handicraft is also a major highlight of Hemis-Tsche.
Besides the sprawling courtyard of the Gomba, its structures are also used during festivals. Dancers use the hall, Dukhang, which is also known also as 'Green room'. The Gomba is divided with an Assembly hall on the right and the main temple on the left. Tshogkhang is the name for temple. The verandahs have a surfeit of frescoes among them the Buddhist Wheel of Life (Kalachakra) and the Lord of the four quarters, besides rows of prayer wheels. In the kitchen there is a huge vessel of copper whose diameter is 12 m, capable of cooking rice for 500 people at a time. Buddhist visitors usually donate money to the kitchen during festive seasons.
The Gompa has well preserved Thankas and copper gild statue of the Lord Buddha, various stupas made of gold and silver and many other auspicious objects.
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