Spituk Gustor Festival observed in Ladakh

Spituk Gustor Festival, is a two-day annual celebration of Ladakhi culture and traditional heritage celebrated on 30th & 31st January 2022 in Leh and Ladakh Union Territory. To witness the colourful festivities, devotees arrive at the Spituk Monastery every year and attend the colourful mask dance locally called “Chams”.

The main purpose of the festival is for world peace, happiness and for the welfare of all beings. Prayers start seven days preceding the festival but dances are performed only during the fiesta. There are also effigies of evil forms are also burnt.

The term Gustor literally means ‘Sacrifice’ in the Tibetan language. The two-day festival is celebrated by various monasteries of the UT such as Thiksey, Spituk, Korzok and Karsha. The Spituk Gustor festival is marked by different kinds of rituals, ceremonies, music & Cham Dance. Cham Dance is a colourful mask dance performed by the monks of the Spituk monastery, located in Leh district, in their best robes depicting different deities.