Which Himalayan festival in Ladakh is famous for masked Cham dances at monasteries?

The Hemis Festival in Ladakh is famous for masked Cham dances performed at Hemis Monastery.

Hemis Monastery is a major Drukpa Buddhist institution near Leh in the Indian union territory of Ladakh. The festival honors Padmasambhava, the Buddhist teacher also known as Guru Rinpoche, and is traditionally held on the tenth day of the fifth month of the Tibetan lunar calendar. Because the date follows that calendar, its Gregorian date changes each year.

Monks wear elaborate masks and costumes during the dances. The performances symbolically represent the triumph of good over evil and are accompanied by ritual music, including drums, cymbals, and long horns. The event also includes religious ceremonies and public displays of sacred objects.

Hemis Festival is often confused with Losar, the Tibetan New Year, or Saga Dawa, which commemorates major events in the Buddha’s life. Those are separate Buddhist observances.