Hi there,
It is surprising that domestic visitors are still coming in numbers in spite of fading corona whims!
Ladakh has this unique tourism combo of ‘Culture with Adventure’ in the form of traditional ‘Folk Dances and Songs’ also monastic ‘Mask Dances and Rituals’, Arts and Crafts and adventures by car safari and motor cycle to varied pristine destinations!
Which is alright but it is also scary in terms of impact from ‘Carbon Foot Prints’ which both the parties that is the ‘Host’ as we all as the ‘Patron’ would not like to see at present due to economic compulsion?
Considering Ladakh region’s ‘Ecology’ being sparse and fragile how would the host overcome this peculiar dilemma of managing their clients also trying its best to contain the ‘Carbon Foot Prints’ which is rather very tricky and it is easier said than done?
When we discuss about Ladakh’s culture then it encompasses an array of spheres beginning with its varied Mahayana monastic traditions vis: Nyigma, Sakya, Drukpa and Drigung Kargyut and Gyalug tradition; besides having a monastery founded by a Bhutanese monk, Ladakh’s own strict monastic tradition of Ridzong monastery.
One beautiful arrangement that our ‘Chosgyal’ (religious King) had done in the past is that they divided each community of a village into different folds of monastic traditions in the past so that all traditions receives equal patron families to observe each tradition at secular level. Which binds communities with each monastery and venerable monks implementing various rituals as per each tradition!
Earlier there were apprehensions regarding these rituals due to lack of information for an outsiders also Mahayana Buddhism being esoteric in nature not much is shared even if one tries hard. On the other hand these rituals appeases the non visible beings that are considered to be part of the Buddhist pantheon.
Now as the incomes of the families going up each family tries to consecrate more rituals and religious ceremonies at home which have rendered the Venerable monks very busy and sometimes it is very difficult to organize religious ceremonies due to lack of availability of venerable monks or the family must plan in advance?
It is also curious to note that over the last two decades many young girls have voluntarily become nuns? This shed light on the demography compulsion among the woman folks of Ladakh renouncing secular life and joining the monastic fold. Some of them do very well and others just follow their group. It is also believed that in the future many of these lady venerable monks will consecrate all kinds of rituals that their man counterpart is undertaking.
Now coming to ‘Secular Culture’, Ladakh has its own traditional ‘Folk Songs and Dances’. Which have come down to present generation from their elders who also got these from their elders. There is great regional diversity in this yet the main features remains the same.
Right from childhood the children are exposed to these ‘Folk Dances and Songs’ and they pick up as per the environment in their household. Some families are very talented and so as their children but on the whole it is considered very essential to know the ‘Folk Dances and Song’ lest one would find oneself in an awkward situation during a ‘Socio Cultural Event’. Bye for now.