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It is interesting to note that the Lahaulas of Pattan Valley celebrate Diwali
not on the day when it is celebrated elsewhere in India. As against amayasa, the all dark
night, it takes place on full moon night and the main feature of the celebrations is
illuminations by lighting small sticks of firewood. A similar festival of illuminations is
Halda, which is celebrated in Gondhla and Gahar Valleys in Lahaul but unlike the fixed
dates for Diwali and Phagli it is held on different days in the month of February.
A festival organized on a grand scale in
Gumrang Kothi i.e. in Keylong and round about is Gochi falling some time in January or
February as is decided by the lamas on the basis of their astrological calculations. The
main object of the festival is to celebrate jointly the births of all the male children
born during the preceding year.
At Thang-gyud monastery a religious festival
called idjed takes place in the month of October and a month later a similar festival
called guitor is held in the monasteries at Kee, Tabo, Dankhar and Pin, all in Spiti
Sub-division. The masked dance is invariably arranged on these occasions and the purpose
is to protect people from diseases and epidemics and ensure health, happiness and
all-round prosperity.
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