Hemis Festival – Birth of Guru Padmasambhava - Fair Festival in Ladakh – Tradition Culture Monastery Gompa

Hemis Festival is held at Hemis gompa established at the top of a hill in Thiksey village of Leh in Ladakh, India. According to Tibetan and Buddhist Legends it is stated that Hemis Festival had its origins from 8^th Century. 

Lord Padmasambhava regarded as Guru Rimpoche had introduced Tantric Buddhism in the Himalayan Kingdom. Combining the teachings of Buddhism with Tibetan culture a new way was established where life was weaved with prayers, austere life and a higher calling.

The masked dance represents victory of good over evil. The participants of dance dressed in colorful costumes and masks. Every mask has its own place in Tibetan and Buddhist legends and designed as humble, divine faces, animals, skeletons and numerous frightful figurines.

Take amusement of delicious foods of Himalayan Kingdom and scenic handicrafts of region are superb. Many numbers of adventure seekers, photographers and travelers are came here. The monastery houses over 500 Lamas & monks. You can see dance, music, prayers, masked performances and a medley of colors. This festival will be unique as the special ceremony which happens once in 12 years, the unfurling of the largest Thangkha is scheduled during the occasion.

A key attraction of festival is unique masked dance performed by Lamas. The Lamas gather around the central flagpole located in courtyard of monastery where singing and dance performances along with plays take place. This festival is organized in the monastery, which is 300-year-old and also is Ladakh's richest monastery. Take amusement of sound of various musical instruments like drums, long horns and cymbals along with dance performances.

Explore Hemis festival held in Ladakh, a region in Jammu and Kashmir with Buddhist Tour, a pilgrimage tour operator in India. Ladkah is referred as land of high passes.

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Buddha Purnima 10 May 2017 – Life of Buddha – Enlightenment Parinirvana – Buddhism India

It is a day to celebrate the birth of Gautama Buddha- founder of Buddhism. Gautama was born in Lumbini in Nepal in year 563 BCE on the full moon day in the Hindu month of Vaisakh. This year we commemorate his 2580th birth anniversary. Buddha Jayanti is celebrated with traditional religious enthusiasm.

Birthday date of Buddha is based on the Asian lunisolar calendars and is celebrated in Baisakh month of the Buddhist calendar and Bikram Sambat Hindu calendar and hence it is also called Vesak.

Gautama learned of suffering of ordinary people, encountering an old man, a sick man, a corpse and an ascetic holy man, apparently content and at peace with the world. These experiences forced Gautama to abandon royal life and take up a spiritual quest.

Buddha Purnima or Buddha Jayanthi is celebrated especially in Sikkim, Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, Bodh Gaya, North Bengal, Maharashtra, Himachal and Uttar Pradesh.

Siddharth Gautamma got enlightenment and nirvana on the same day ie Full Moon day. Therefore Buddha Purnima also marks parinirvana of Gautama Buddha. He achieved enlightenment in Bodhgaya under a bodhi tree.

Sarnath is foremost place in Buddhism as Gautam Buddha delivers his first sermon here hence on this holy day a large fair is held at Sarnath and relics of the Buddha are taken out for public display in a procession. On this day Buddhists offer prayers in various monasteries & Gompa at Sarnath and this celebration attracts huge crowd. Some religious activities likes as Prayers, sermons and recitation of Buddhist scriptures are performed by monks. Buddhists and devotees meditate and worship the statue of Lord Buddha.

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Buddhism - Buddhist Tour planner India - Explore Buddhism - Buddhist Tour Operator Delhi

In general, “Buddha” means “Awakened One”, someone who has awakened from the sleep of ignorance and sees things as they really are. A Buddha is a person who is completely free from all faults and mental obstructions.

Buddhism is a path of practice and spiritual development, providing a person with insight into the true nature of life. Buddhist practices, such as meditation, serve as the means of changing oneself, in order to develop the qualities of awareness, kindness, and wisdom. 

 Buddhism is not about teaching or learning, but about experiencing. If we integrate Buddha’s teachings into our daily life, we will be able to solve all our inner problems and attain a truly peaceful mind. Without inner peace, outer peace is impossible. If we first establish peace within our minds by training in spiritual paths, outer peace will come naturally; but if we do not, world peace will never be achieved, no matter how many people campaign for it.

For more info contact to Buddhist Tour, India based Buddhist Tour Planer.

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Buddhism in Orissa - Buddhist Attractions of Odisha – Buddhist Tour – Monastery & Hill Stations

 Explore temples, monastery, shanti stupa, pilgrimage sits and hill stations in Odisha (Orissa).

Ratnagiri: The Ratnagiri Hill is one of most extensive ruins and is famous for Pushpagiri monastery. 

Lalitagiri: The Laitaghiri hills in Odisha serve as an important historical site. An ancient stupa containing relics preserved in caskets of stone is one of the recent and spectacular discoveries.

Dhauli: The Shanti Stupa at the Dhauli Hill situated on the bank of the River Daya is another world renowned Buddhist sites in Odisha.  Nippon-Buddha Sangha established a peace pagoda or Shanti Stupa atDhauli.
Udaygiri: Udayagiri is the largest Buddhist complex of Odisha. It is make up with major stupas and monasteries, viharas.

Pipli: This place is famous for the applique work, the rare artistry. The lifestyle and social structure of applique workers are very interesting to see because of since they show a close resemblance to the craftsmen of medieval Europe.

The Nandan Kanan National Park: This wildlife park is 20 km far from capital city and is well known for white tiger breeding. Beautifully laid out landscapes, green surroundings, rare animals and birds make this park is to an ideal place to visit.

Langudi: It is a hill stations located in Jajpur district of Odisha have an ancient Buddhist Mahavihara called as Pushpagiri. Langudi has many Stupas cut out from rock likes as Buddha in Samadhi mudra, Sculpture of Goddess Tara, the harmonic umbrella, the Cylin dome.

Motifs: The motifs, also known as Kunjalata and Patralata, represent the process of cultural transfer and adoption of items from Buddhism.

Click here Buddhism in Odisha to get more info about Buddhist tourism in Odisha. 

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Buddhist Tour Sikkim – Buddhist Monastery Stupas Sikkim - Yumthang Valley - Orchid Sanctuary – Tourism in Sikkim

Sikkim is a northern state of India located blessed with majestic Himalayan ranges, lush valleys and dazzling rivers. Sikkim has lot attractions for visitors, monks, holiday-makers and onlookers. Dharma Chakra Centre is the largest monastery of Sikkim.

Major Buddhist Places in Sikkim:

Rumtek Dharma Chakra Centre: It is 24 km far from Gangtok, the capital city of Sikkim. Rumtek Dharma Chakra Centre is the largest monastery of Sikkim.

Do-Drul Chorten: This stupa is most sacred place in Sikkim respected by thousand of Buddhists and monks. It was made by the Trulshi Rimpoche, the head of the Nyingma order of the Tibetan Mahayana Buddhism.

Deer Park: The Deer Park, also known as Rustamjee Park reminiscent the first sermon of the Lord Gautam Buddha at the Deer Park in Sarnath. Deer Park is home to Himalayan Bears, Red Pandas and species of Deer.

Khecheopalri Lake: Khecheopalri Lake, also named as wishing lake is one of the sacred lakes of Sikkim. 

Namgyal Research Institute of Tibetology: It is a renowned Buddhism learning center having largest collection of the books and manuscripts of the Mahayana Buddhism in the world. 

Other Major Attractions of Sikkim

Yumthang Valley: This valley is also known as the 'valley of flowers'  a home to the fast flowing tributary of the Teesta River, numerous hot springs of medicinal value and species of colorful flowers.

Government Cottage Industries Institute: The Handloom and Handicraft Centre is also referred as the Government Cottage Industries Institute protects and promotes the artisans of Sikkim and their fantastic artistic skills.

Orchid Sanctuary:  This sanctuary is home to some of the rarest Orchid species in the world. The sanctuary known for its over 454 species of Orchid collection.

Changu Lake: The Changu Lake, known as the source of lake in Bhutia language. Changu Lake is surrounded by The Alpine forest.

How to Reach:

By Air - Gangtok, the capital city of Sikkim is nearest airport is at Bagdogra in Sikkim.

By Rail - The nearest railway station is Siliguri (114 km) and New Jalpaiguri (125 km). These stations are connected with major cities such as Kolkata (West Bengal), Guwahati (Assam), Delhi and Luckhnow (Uttar Pradesh).

By Road: Gangtok is well connected by a road network to other districts of Sikkim along with Kolkata, Guwahati and other major places of neighboring states.
 

Visit here in order to get more info about Sikkim Buddhist Tour

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Bomdila Tour - Mahayana Buddhist Monastery- Buddhism in Arunachal Pradesh

Bomdila Monastery: A Mahayana Buddhist monastery in Arunachal Pradesh. It is a replica of Tibet’s Tsona Gontse Monastery. This monastery is also known as Gentse Gaden Rabgyel Lling monastery. Bomdila’s Gompa comprises a prayer hall for peace prayers, a Buddha temple and residential quarters for monks along with a study center for young monks who want to pursue monastic life.

The small town of Bomdila is decorated with panoramic view of snow-covered mountains of the eastern Himalayas. It is renowned for scenic environs, Buddhist monasteries and apple orchids. The Orchid Research and Development Station at Tippi and two other Orchid conservation sanctuaries located at Sessa and Dirang are worth seeing places.

Bomdila is a headquarters of West Kameng district in Arunachal Pradesh, India.  The Bomdila pass offers scenic views of Kangto and Gorichen Peaks, the highest peak in Arunachal Pradesh. Bomdila has an All India Radio Relay station known as Akashvani Bomdila. It broadcasts on FM frequencies. Bomdila has a craft centre displaying local crafts.

Travelers can take amusement of trekking and hiking around Bomdila. Discover GRL Tibetan Buddhist Monastery, Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary and apple orchards & orchid farms.

Explore Buddhism in Bomdila, Arunachal Pradesh contact to Buddhist Tour, a well known Buddhist tour operator in India. 

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Tawang Monastery - Buddhism in Arunachal Pradesh- Monuments Monasteries Stupa Gompa- Buddhist Tour

Arunachal Pradesh is a picturesque land located in the north eastern of India. The capital city of the state is Itanagar. Tourist Attractions of Arunachal Pradesh are as thick evergreen forests, spectacular valleys, snow-clad mountains, meandering rivers, exotic variety of flora and fauna. Rich tribal culture of Arunachal Pradesh is also a big attraction for vacationers.

TAWANG a city in Arunachal Pradesh is a paradise blessed with forests, monasteries, lakes, hamlets.  Tawang Monastery is the largest monastery in India and second largest in the world after the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. 

 Tawang pulls you towards itself by its unmatched beauty and your senses wonder at the gift of nature displayed in each corner of the land. Tawang is captivating with Tibet to its northern side, Sela range of West Kameng to the east and Bhutan in the southwest direction. Breathtaking valleys, misty rivers and stunning waterfalls in Tawang give you an unforgettable experience. 

Some of major tourist attractions of Tawang are: Sela Pass, Tawang Monastery, Taktsang Gompa, Gorichen Peak, Shonga-tser Lake, Nuranang Waterfalls, Pankang Teng Tso Lake, Bumla Pass, Bap Teng Kang Waterfalls, Jaswant Garh.

For more info about Tawang Tour visit to http://www.buddhisttour.com/tawang-tour.html 

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