LAHUL AND SPITI

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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