Ladakhis are known for their cheerful disposition and
most of their festivals fall in winters, which serve as an excuse for
social and convivial gatherings. In summers, archery competitions and
native version of polo are quite common and especially among the
Buddhists, these competitions are often a local ball where folk songs
and dances add to the jovial atmosphere and 'Chang', the local barley
beer is amply used. The rich collection of oral literature of the region
is full of occasion-special songs and poems and includes the localized
versions of the Tibetan epic, 'Kesar Saga'.
Traditions & Rituals
The folk musical instruments 'Surna' (oboe) and 'Daman' (drum)
accompany the ceremonies and public events. These instruments originally
introduced into the region by Muslims hailing from Baltistan but are now
exclusively played by 'Mons' (Buddhist musicians). A newly born child
gets a warm welcome full of festivity and merriment, with functions on
his 15th day in the world, after one month of the birth of a child and
his/her first birthday. The family invites all the friends, relatives
and neighbors and serves them with tea, 'Tsampa' (a local delicacy),
butter and sugar.
Weddings in Ladakh are full of music, dance, merriment and feasting.
The boys are generally promised or married at an age of 16 and girls by
the age of 12. The relatives of the groom take 'Chang', tea, butter and
other presents along with the ring to the bride's home. If the gifts are
accepted then marriage takes place a few months later. On the first day,
a grand feast ensues at the bride's house and on the second day, at the
groom's place. After marriage, bride lives with her husband and her
parents offer clothes, animals and land to the couple as dowry or
'Raqtqaq', depending on their economic status.
The males are the head of the family and the eldest son has the right
to property of his father, which automatically passes to the next
brother after him. In case, there are no sons in the family, the father
brings in husband of the eldest daughter and property gets transferred
in the daughter's name and passes on to her first son, after her.
Lamas as Oracles
Lamas are believed to be the messengers between the physical and the
spiritual world and often act as astrologers and oracles predicting the
auspicious time for starting any major enterprise. However, the
monk-oracles of Matho Gompa are the most popular ones. It is very
interesting to witness the feats performed hby these monk-oracles. Two
monks are chosen to act as oracles in every three years by a traditional
procedure and they have to undergo rigorous routine of prayer and
fasting (and perhaps training) to purify themselves for the cause. When
they finish, deity possess their body at the opportune time ans the
feats, which they perform feats that can awe anyone including cutting
themselves with knives without even wincing and sprinting along the
gompa's (monastery's) topmost parapet as if they are made of rubber.
Whenever possessed, they are believed to answer only the truth regarding
individual and public welfare, though, the deity may also react with
frenzied anger to those who are skeptical and ask questions only to test
the deity.
