In Ladakh, celebration of annual Hemis Monastic Festival, popularly known as Hemis Tseschu begins from today with great religious fervor and gaiety.

Hemis monastic festival is celebrate with grand prayers, performance of sacred mask dances and exhibition of  Thanka  or mural Painting  to mark the occasion of birth anniversary of Guru Padma Sambhava.
It is popular festival in the country as large numbers of people from different parts of the country as well as foreign countries visit Ladakh  to witness the mighty and sacred manifestation of Guru Padma Sambhava through mask dances by the monks.

It is celebrating ever since founded in 17th century by Galras Rinpoche, the son of King of Ladakh, Deskong Namgyal.