Also known as the ‘Land of High Passes,’ Ladakh is the northernmost place in India. It is now a Union Territory, once a part of Jammu and Kashmir. Ladakh is surrounded by the beautiful Himalayas, the Ladakh range, and the Karakoram on three sides. Mountaineers will get lost in the mesmerising beauty of the rugged terrains.

Go through the following sections to learn about the government and bank holidays, along with the famous destinations of Ladakh.

When we hear Ladakh, it brings us pictures of beautiful monasteries, crystal clear lakes, sky-touching mountains, and rich culture. The majority of Ladakh’s culture is influenced by the Buddhists living there, and the festivals reflect their traditions and beliefs.

The section below lists the holidays specific to Ladakh:

1. Lohri (13th January 2024): Lohri is the harvest festival where people gather around a bonfire and dance in joy to welcome the newly harvested crops. It also marks the beginning of a new year.
2. Mela Dosmochey (7th February 2024): Mela Dosmochey is a culturally rich festival celebrated in Ladakh to drive away evil. It was initiated by the rulers of Ladakh and included mask dances and religious symbols.
3. Mahashivratri (8th March 2024): Mahashivratri is the auspicious day when Lord Shiva entered into marriage with Goddess Parvati. Women generally fast and pour water over shiva linga to break their fasts at the end of the day.
4. Nauroz (21st March 2024): Nauroz, popularly known as the polo festival of Ladakh, marks the spring Equinox, on which the day and night are equal in length. This day also marks the beginning of spring.
5. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Birthday (14th April 2024): Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was known to be the first person to fight for the rights of the backward castes. This day is also known as Bhim Jayanti.
6. Ram Navami (17th April 2024): Ram Navami is celebrated as Lord Rama's birth anniversary on the 9th day of shukla paksha. Offerings made in temples and taking out processions are common rituals.
7. Buddha Purnima (23rd May 2024): Buddha Purnima marks Gautam Buddha's birth anniversary, also known as the day of his enlightenment. It is the most important day for Buddhists worldwide.
8. Hemis Tsechu (17th June 2024): Hemis Tsechu is a Tibetan festival celebrated in the courtyard of Hemis monastery to mark the Guru Padmasambhava’s birth anniversary. The most unique feature of this festival is the masked dance by Lamas.
9. Eid-E-Ghadeer (25th June 2024): This is a joyous day for Shia Muslims and is celebrated on the 18th day of the last month of the lunar calendar. On this day, Prophet Muhammad is known to have announced his successor.
10. Ashoora (17th July 2024): The Shi'i world is known to commemorate Husayn’s martyrdom. On that day, the preachers recount the history of the battle along with the life of Husayn.
11. Chelum/Youm-e-Arbaeen (26th August 2024): This festival, mainly celebrated in the Kargil District, commemorates Prophet Mohammad’s grandson, Hazrat Imam.
12. Mahanavami and Dussehra (11th and 12th October 2024): These are the last two days of Maa Durga's nine-day puja. Maa Durga’s idol is thrown into the holy waters on the last day.
13. Diwali (31st October 2024): Diwali is the brightest festival of the year and is known as the ‘festival of lights.’ This day is known for Lord Rama's return to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana.
14. Guru Nanak Dev's Birthday (15th November 2024): Guru Nanak Dev Ji's birthday is celebrated on the full moon day of the Bengali lunar month, Kartik, as per the Sikh literature.
15. Losar (31st December 2024): Losar is one of the most important festivities for the Tibetans. According to the Tibetan calendar, it marks the beginning of a new year. Prayers and various traditional ceremonies are enthusiastically offered.

This article will hopefully help you plan your itinerary whenever you want to go on a Ladakh trip. The list of government holidays will also help you plan important meetings and appointments, eventually minimizing the chances of getting cancelled.

Know more about:

• Best Wildlife Safaris in Ladakh
• Top Tourist Places in Ladakh