One of the major highlights of the culture of Leh Ladakh
are the monasteries that you will find in almost every
village. They may range from huge complexes consisting
of a number of shrines, prayer halls, etc to a tiny
hermitage housing a single image. The other dominant
faith, that of Islam, finds a presence mainly in the
western areas of Ladakh. The early conversion of the
sub-rulers of Drass, Kargil and the Suru Valley led to
the penetration of the Shia sect in Ladakh. In the areas
dominated by the Muslims, you will mainly find mosques,
ranging from the small unpretentious buildings to the
huge Imambaras.
Rather than rest of the Indians, the Ladakhis look more
like the residents of Tibet and Central Asia, be it
their physique or their facial features. Even though the
original population of Ladakh consisted of Dards, an
Indo-Aryan race, but large-scale immigration from Tibet
changed the cultural heritage of Ladakh. The only people
that resemble the mainland Indians are the Muslims,
residing mainly in the Leh area. Songs and poems for
every occasion, as well as local versions of the Kesar
Saga (the Tibetan national epic) also form a part of
Ladakh culture
The religious beliefs and practices in Ladakh region are
completely different to those of the mainland India.
The reason is not far to seek as most of the people in
the Ladakh region have a distinct cultural descent.
Buddhism is the dominant religion in the Ladakh region.
However, some other religions are also present in this
beautiful valley. Before you plan your trip to Ladakh
its important to know the culture, lifestyle and
religion of the people inhabiting the area.
The walls of Ladakh's gompas are covered with
illustrations of the Lord Buddha, his manifestations and
followers, and the incorporated Bon and Hindu guardian
deities in their various incarnations. It all makes for
colourful and varied wall murals in every Ladakh gompa.
The monasteries follow each of the two main sects of
Buddhism that developed in Tibet: the Karyu pa or
red-hat sect and the Gelug pa or yellow-hat sect. The
Dalai Lama, believed to be a reincarnation of the
Boddhisattva Avalokitesvara, is the head of the Gelug-pa
sect.
The gompas represent the monastic side of Buddhism, or
lamaism. The lamaist side of Buddhism, requiring lon
tation, contrasts with the everyday practice of Buddhism
by Ladakhi lay people.
For Ladakhis, religion is a daily affair with visible
rituals that are frequently observed. These include
spinning prayer wheels, making pilgrimages to gompas,
chortens, mani walls and holy tombs, chanting mantras
and reciting prayers in the area of the home set aside
as a chapel.
The walls of Ladakh's gompas are covered with
illustrations of the Lord Buddha, his manifestations and
followers, and the incorporated Bon and Hindu guardian
deities in their various incarnations. It all makes for
colourful and varied wall murals in every Ladakh gompa.
The monasteries follow each of the two main sects of
Buddhism that developed in Tibet: the Karyu pa or
red-hat sect and the Gelug pa or yellow-hat sect. The
Dalai Lama, believed to be a reincarnation of the
Boddhisattva Avalokitesvara, is the head of the Gelug-pa
sect.
The gompas represent the monastic side of Buddhism, or
lamaism. The lamaist side of Buddhism, requiring lon
tation, contrasts with the everyday practice of Buddhism
by Ladakhi lay people.
For Ladakhis, religion is a daily affair with visible
rituals that are frequently observed. These include
spinning prayer wheels, making pilgrimages to gompas,
chortens, mani walls and holy tombs, chanting mantras
and reciting prayers in the area of the home set aside
as a chapel.
Buddhism :-
The
dominant religion of Ladakh, India is Buddhism,
especially in the central and eastern areas. Infact, it
is one of the few places where Mahayana Buddhism, also
known as Lamaism, is still practiced. This religion is a
mixture of the animistic Bon faith and ancient Hindu
tantric practices. Buddhism has very deep roots in
Ladakh as this region was introduced to the faith as far
back as the 7th century AD. One of the major features of
Buddhism in Ladakh is the numerous monasteries or gompas.
Islam :-
After Buddhism the second most dominant in the Ladakh
religions is Islam. Especially in the western Ladakh
area, Shia Muslims are found in a majority. Sunni
Muslims are also found in Ladakh, however they have a
very small population.
Christianity :-
Ladakh also has a Christian population, mainly in the
town of Leh. They constitute a minority in this area,
but belong to the top rungs of the Ladakhi society.
There are also two churches in Ladakh, one in Leh and
the other in the Shey area. |