Ladakh Festival Calendar 2025 – Complete Guide to Dates, Events & Cultural Celebrations

Ladakh is not just about mountains, lakes, and adventure — it is also a land rich in culture, spirituality, and vibrant traditions. Every year, Ladakh hosts numerous monasteries and community festivals that showcase mask dances, ancient rituals, colorful costumes, folk music, and deep cultural heritage.
If you’re planning your trip in 2025, this Ladakh Festival Calendar will help you choose the best time to experience the region’s most authentic celebrations.

This complete 2025 festival guide includes exact dates (where available), festival highlights, places of celebration, and travel tips to help you plan the perfect culture-rich journey.

Why Attend Festivals in Ladakh?

  • Witness ancient Buddhist monastery rituals

  • Enjoy vibrant Cham (mask dance) performances

  • Interact with local communities

  • Capture colorful photography

  • Experience Ladakh’s cultural essence

  • Attend gatherings that date back thousands of years

Major Festivals of Ladakh in 2025 – Month-Wise Calendar

(Important Note: Some festival dates depend on the Tibetan lunar calendar; exact dates may vary.)

January 2025

1. Spituk Gustor Festival

Location: Spituk Monastery
Expected Dates: 20–21 January 2025

Highlights:

  • Monks perform sacred Cham dances

  • “Chos-skyong” mask ceremony

  • Rituals to eliminate negativity

A spiritually powerful winter festival.

February 2025

2. Dosmoche Festival

Location: Leh Palace & Diskit Monastery
Expected Dates: 24–25 February 2025

Highlights:

  • Monastic mask dances

  • Ritual offerings to ward off evil

  • Gathering of thousands of locals

One of the most important winter celebrations.

3. Stok Guru Tsechu Festival

Location: Stok Village
Expected Dates: 27–28 February 2025

Highlights:

  • Oracle monks predict the future

  • Sacred rituals

  • Special mask performances

A rare event loved by cultural travelers.

March 2025

4. Matho Nagrang Festival

Location: Matho Monastery
Expected Dates: 13–14 March 2025

Highlights:

  • Two “oracle monks” enter spiritual trance

  • Unique predictions

  • Vibrant Cham dances

One of Ladakh’s most mysterious festivals.

April 2025

April is mostly calm with no major festivals, but is a good time for monastery visits and spring photography.

May 2025

5. Buddha Purnima (Vesak)

Location: All monasteries
Expected Dates: 12 May 2025

Highlights:

  • Prayers

  • Mass gatherings

  • Lamp offerings

A peaceful spiritual celebration.

June 2025

6. Yuru Kabgyat Festival

Location: Lamayuru Monastery
Expected Dates: 23–24 June 2025

Highlights:

  • Mask dances by monks

  • Dramatic rituals

  • Colorful cultural display

Set in the “Moonland” of Ladakh.

7. Hemis Festival 2025

Location: Hemis Monastery
Expected Dates: 29–30 June 2025

Highlights:

  • Biggest festival in Ladakh

  • Cham dances

  • Unveiling of Guru Padmasambhava thangka

  • Thousands of participants

One of the most famous festivals worldwide.

July 2025

8. Stongday Gustor Festival

Location: Stongday Monastery, Zanskar
Expected Dates: 13–14 July 2025

Highlights:

  • Traditional mask dances

  • Monastic rituals

  • Vibrant community gathering

August 2025

9. Phyang Tsedup Festival

Location: Phyang Monastery
Expected Dates: 3–4 August 2025

Highlights:

  • Sacred Cham dances

  • Cultural events

  • Village celebrations

10. Sani Nalanda Festival

Location: Sani Monastery (Zanskar)
Expected Dates: 7–8 August 2025

Highlights:

  • Masked dances

  • Cultural programs

  • Monastic rituals

September 2025

11. Ladakh Festival (Tourism Festival)

Location: Leh & Surrounding Villages
Expected Dates: 1–15 September 2025

Highlights:

  • Opening parade

  • Folk dances

  • Polo matches

  • Archery competitions

  • Musical evenings

  • Cultural shows

Ideal for tourists visiting in peak season.

12. Thakthok Festival

Location: Thakthok Monastery
Expected Dates: 18–19 September 2025

Highlights:

  • Traditional Cham performances

  • Monastery cave rituals

  • Community festivities

October 2025

13. Harvest Festival

Location: Villages across Ladakh
Expected Dates: First week of October

Highlights:

  • Folk dances

  • Community feasts

  • Celebration of harvest season

A great time to experience village culture.

November 2025

14. Galdan Namchot

Location: All of Ladakh
Expected Date: 26 November 2025

Highlights:

  • Celebration of Tsongkhapa’s birth

  • Lighting of homes

  • Community gatherings

Marks the start of Ladakhi New Year celebrations.

December 2025

15. Losar Festival (Ladakhi New Year)

Location: Leh & all villages
Expected Date: 11 December 2025

Highlights:

  • Dance and music

  • Family gatherings

  • Monastery rituals

  • Feasting and celebrations

A major winter festival.

Tips for Attending Ladakh Festivals in 2025

1. Check Dates Regularly

Many dates shift based on the lunar calendar.

2. Arrive Early

Popular festivals attract large crowds; early arrival ensures the best viewing spots.

3. Respect Monastic Rules

No flash photography during rituals, maintain silence during prayers.

4. Dress Warmly

Even during summer, festival venues can be cold.

5. Capture Photographs Respectfully

Ask permission before taking close-up pictures of locals.

Best Places to Stay During Festival Time

  • Hotels in Leh city

  • Homestays near monasteries

  • Boutique lodges

  • Nubra & Zanskar guesthouses (for local festivals)

Book at least 1–3 months in advance during Hemis and Ladakh Festival.

Final Thoughts

Ladakh’s festivals are a window into its rich cultural heritage, ancient Buddhist traditions, and lively community spirit. Whether you’re witnessing the spectacular Cham dances at Hemis, experiencing the oracle rituals at Matho, or joining the crowds at Ladakh Festival in Leh, each event leaves a lasting impression.

With this Ladakh Festival Calendar 2025, you can plan your trip perfectly around the most exciting and meaningful celebrations of the region.