Just Go and Celebrate Galdan Namchot with Ladakhis

Ladakh celebrates a beautiful festival every year known as Galdan Namchot. The scintillating festival is celebrated every year to mark the birthday and the Buddhahood of Je Tsongkhapa. Je Tsongkhapa is a famous teacher of Tibetan Buddhism. His contributory activities led to the formation of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism.

The festival also marks the beginning of the New Year celebrations in one of the most scenic places in India. Je Tsongkhapa was born in 1357 in Tsongkha city in Amdo, Tibet which is the present day Haidong and Xining, Qinghai. Galdan Namchot is celebrated on the twenty-fifth day of the tenth month of the Tibetan lunar calendar.

People celebrate the festival by lighting up monasteries, public and residential buildings. To symbolize annihilation of darkness, they also lit up Butter lamps. Ladakhis prepare traditional dishes like Thukpa, Momo and Butter tea. People of Ladakh also gift a traditional ceremonial scarf which is known as Khatak.

By: Bhavna Sharma

Content: Wikipedia