Visiting Dharamsala and Mcleodganj hotels during Festive times

Festivals are celebrated with a great enthusiasm by the Tibetans, whether in their homeland or at Dharamsala and Mcleodganj, where they live in exile. As a tourist who is keen to learn about their culture and their way of life, it is important to take note of the dates and time period during which they celebrate their festivals. If you book the Mcleodganj hotels during these periods, you will find a lot of liveliness and action in preparation for these festivals. rnTibetans have their own calendar which they follow. This calendar is about 40 to 60 days behind the solar calendar which we follow. So, the Tibetan New Year begins in the month of February. From the 1st to 7th of this first month (February) is celebrated the Losar, the New Year festival. This is a week long celebration with activities such as carnivals, horse races and archery being done on a wide scale. The time of this New Year festival overlaps with the other festival of Monlam Chenmo which is carries on from the 4th to the 15th of the first month. This is one of the main festivals of the Tibetans. This is celebrated in the honor of Lord Buddha Sakyamuni and is also called the Great Prayer Festival. During your stay at the Mcleodganj hotels, you can find the people celebrating this festival by doing the prayers. rnLantern Festival is yet another festival in the first month. It falls on the 15th of every first month. It is celebrated in commemoration of the Buddha’s miracle at Sravasti. This is the Tibetan festival of lights where the lamps are lit in the windows and the fires are lit on the roofs of the houses. Even the Mcleodganj hotels might be lighting the lanterns and lighting fires on roofs. Some of the hotels also organize the dance and music along with it for the enjoyment of the tourists. rnThe second month sees the festival to drive out the spirits. For the pilgrims, the fourth month sees the most important festivals, related to the birth of Buddha Sakyamuni. On the 7th day is organized the Pilgrim festival and on the 15th is celebrated the Saka Dawa when an open opera is held and the animals are released. rnIf you find that there is an unusually good amount if incense is being spread around in the Mcleodganj hotels, then the day is of the incense festival, the day when the ghosts are said to prowl. The Tibetans seek to drive them away by dressing up and partying. The Sho-Dun, or the Yoghurt festival is celebrated from 15th-24th of the fifth month. rnSixth month sees a feast being held to commemorate first sermon of Buddha. The famous Ongkar festival of the 7th month is to ensure a good harvest. You might also love to participate in the Golden Star Festival which is held to wash away human vices of passion and ego. Bathing in rivers could be very joyous and thereafter, the enjoyment of picnic is a wonderful experience. rnThe 12th month sees festivals like Meeting of the Eight Guardians when the people stay indoors to avoid the evil outside. The Devil Dance is done on the 29th to remove the evils of the last year and to prepare for the new year.