Question

Which of the following communities celebrate the Hemis festival in honour of Guru Padmasambhava's birth anniversary?
1. Buddhists
2. Sikhs
3. Christians
4. Parsis

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 1 : Buddhists

The correct answer is Buddhists.

Hemis Festival

• The Hemis Festival is celebrated in honour of the sage, Padmasambhava is also known as Guru Rimpoche.
• Rimpoches are believed to be reincarnations of Lord Buddha. This festival celebrates his birthday.
• The festival takes place in Hemis Gompa, the largest and richest Buddhist monastery in Ladakh.
• It is recommended to reach the Gompa by dawn when ceremonies begin and the Thangka of Rimpoche Dadmokarpo is displayed in all its glory to the beat of drums, clash of cymbals, and blowing off the long-horns.
• This is followed by masked dances in the spacious square in the Gompa precincts, by dancers known as Chhaams (dragon dances included) depicting legends and the triumph of good over evil, and other rituals. 
• The two-day festival celebrated on the tenth day of the Tibetan lunar month is a state holiday.
• Hemis Monastery is located in the town of Hemis, which is about 45 kilometers away from Leh.
• The monastery is enveloped by the majestic mountains that captivate the attention of the travelers visiting the monastery. 
• It is a UNESCO world heritage site that is owned by Drukpa Lineage.