Neem Tree Helth benefits of Neem Tree Agreeculture of India

                                         Neem 

 Neem also known as Azadirachta indica, Nimtree, and Indian Lilac is a tree in the mahogany family Meliaceae. It is one of two species in the genus Azadirachta, and is native to India and the Indian subcontinent including Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. It is typically grown in tropical and semi-tropical regions. Neem trees now also grow in islands located in the southern part of Iran. Its fruits and seeds are the source of neem oil

Neem is a fast-growing tree that can reach a height of 15–20 metres (49–66 ft), and rarely 35–40 metres (115–131 ft). It is evergreen, but in severe drought it may shed most or nearly all of its leaves. The branches are wide and spreading. The fairly dense crown is roundish and may reach a diameter of 15–20 metres (49–66 ft) in old, free-standing specimens. The neem tree is very similar in appearance to its relative, the Chinaberry (Melia azedarach).

The opposite, pinnate leaves are 20–40 centimetres (7.9–15.7 in) long, with 20 to 31 medium to dark green leaflets about 3–8 centimetres (1.2–3.1 in) long. The terminal leaflet is often missing. The petioles are short.

The (white and fragrant) flowers are arranged in more-or-less drooping axillary panicles which are up to 25 centimetres (9.8 in) long. The inflorescences, which branch up to the third degree, bear from 150 to 250 flowers. An individual flower is 5–6 millimetres (0.20–0.24 in) long and 8–11 millimetres (0.31–0.43 in) wide. Protandrous, bisexual flowers and male flowers exist on the same individual tree.

The fruit is a smooth (glabrous), olive-like drupe which varies in shape from elongate oval to nearly roundish, and when ripe is 1.4–2.8 centimetres (0.55–1.10 in) by 1.0–1.5 centimetres (0.39–0.59 in). The fruit skin (exocarp) is thin and the bitter-sweet pulp (mesocarp) is yellowish-white and very fibrous. The mesocarp is 0.3–0.5 centimetres (0.12–0.20 in) thick. The white, hard inner shell (endocarp) of the fruit encloses one, rarely two or three, elongated seeds (kernels) having a brown seed coat.

Neem oil is a vegetable oil pressed from the fruits and seeds of the neem (Azadirachta indica), an evergreen tree which is endemic to the Indian subcontinent and has been introduced to many other areas in the tropics. It is the most important of the commercially available products of neem for organic farming and medicines.

Neem oil varies in color; it can be golden yellow, yellowish brown, reddish brown, dark brown, greenish brown, or bright red. It has a rather strong odor that is said to combine the odours of peanut and garlic. It is composed mainly of triglycerides and contains many triterpenoid compounds, which are responsible for the bitter taste. It is hydrophobic in nature; in order to emulsify it in water for application purposes, it must be formulated with appropriate surfactants.

Azadirachtin is the most well known and studied triterpenoid in neem oil. The azadirachtin content of neem oil varies from 300ppm to over 2500ppm depending on the extraction technology and quality of the neem seeds crushed. Nimbin is another triterpenoid which has been credited with some of neem oil's properties as an antiseptic, antifungal, antipyretic and antihistamine. Neem oil also contains several sterols, including (campesterol, beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol).

Neem oil is not used for cooking purposes. In India, it is used for preparing cosmetics (soap, hair products, body hygiene creams, hand creams) and in Ayurvedic, Unani and folklore traditional medicine, in the treatment of a wide range of afflictions. The most frequently reported indications in ancient Ayurvedic writings are skin diseases, inflammations and fevers, and more recently rheumatic disorders, insect repellent and insecticide effects.

Traditional Ayurvedic uses of neem include the treatment of acne, fever, leprosy, malaria, ophthalmia and tuberculosis. Various folk remedies for neem include use as an anthelmintic, antifeedant, antiseptic, diuretic, emmenagogue, contraceptive, febrifuge, parasiticide, pediculocide and insecticide. It has been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of tetanus, urticaria, eczema, scrofula and erysipelas. Traditional routes of administration of neem extracts included oral, vaginal and topical use. Neem oil has an extensive history of human use in India and surrounding regions for a variety of therapeutic purposes. Puri (1999) has given an account of traditional uses and therapeutic indications and pharmacological studies of this oil, in his book on neem.

Names for this plant in various languages include;

• Arabic - Neeb, Azad-darakhul-hind, Shajarat Alnnim
• Assamese - Neem
• Bengali - Nim
• English - Margosa, Neem Tree
• French - Azadirac de l'Inde, margosier, margousier
• German - Indischer zedrach, Grossblaettiger zedrach
• Gujarati - Dhanujhada, Limbda
• Hausa - Darbejiya, Dogonyaro, Bedi
• Hindi - Neem
• Kannada - Bevu
• Kiswahili - Muarubaini
• Malay - Mambu
• Malayalam - Ariyaveppu
• Manipuri - Neem
• Marathi - Kadunimba
• Myanmar - Burma- Tamar
• Nepal - Neem
• Persian - Azad Darakth e hind, neeb, nib
• Portuguese - Nimbo, Margosa, Amargoseira
• Punjabi - Nimm
• Sanskrit - Arishta, Pakvakrita, Nimbaka
• Sinhala - Kohomba
• Somali - Geed Hindi
• Tamil - Veppai, Sengumaru
• Telugu - Vepa 
• Thai - Sadao
• tulu-besappu
• Urdu - Neem 

As a vegetable

Neem is used in parts of mainland Southeast Asia, particularly in Cambodia aka sdov Laos (where it is called kadao), Thailand (where it is known as sadao or sdao), Myanmar (where it is known as tamar) and Vietnam (where it is known as sầu đâu and is used to cook the salad gỏi sầu đâu). Even lightly cooked, the flavour is quite bitter and the food is not enjoyed by all inhabitants of these nations, though it is believed to be good for one's health. Neem gum is a rich source of protein. In Myanmar, young neem leaves and flower buds are boiled with tamarind fruit to soften its bitterness and eaten as a vegetable. Pickled neem leaves are also eaten with tomato and fish paste sauce in Myanmar.The tender shoots and flowers of the neem tree are eaten as a vegetable in India. A souplike dish called Veppampoo charu (Tamil) (translated as "neem flower rasam") made of the flower of neem is prepared in Tamil Nadu. In West Bengal, young neem leaves are fried in oil with tiny pieces of eggplant (brinjal). The dish is called nim begun and is the first item during a Bengali meal that acts as an appetizer. It is eaten with rice.

Benefits

1.Neem is used in vitiated pitta conditions, hyperdipsia, leprosy, skin diseases, eczema, leucoderma, pruritus, intermittent fever, wounds, and ulcers, burning sensation, tumors, lymph tuberculosis, anorexia, vomiting, dyspepsia, intestinal worms, liver, cough, bronchitis, inflammation and fatigue.

2.Neem products have medicinal properties that have proven to be anti-diabetic, anti-fungal, antiviral, antibacterial, and sedatives and anti-fertility.

3. Patients suffering from chickenpox are recommended to sleep on Neem leaves.
Are known to neutralize more than 500 worldwide pests, including insects, mites, ticks and nematodes, affecting their behaviour and physiology.

4. Neem tree Gum is used as a bulking agent to prepare special food for diabetics. Its branches are used for cleaning teeth.

5. Neem oil is used for the preparation of cosmetics such as creams, shampoo, soap, balms, etc. which are useful for treatment of acne, to maintain skin elasticity, and skin care.

6. Neem leaf extract is useful in the treatment of malaria and blood purification.

7. A decoction can be prepared from the roots of the Neem tree and is taken to relieve fever.
The paste of Neem leaves is applied on the skin to treat acne.

8. Neem leaves are added to the bath to help the skin to maintain perfect condition, the leaf extract have an anti-bacterial properties and regular use can cure many types of skin diseases.

9. Neem helps prevent hemorrhoids by helping the body rid itself of waste and prevent constipation (which is probably one of the leading cause’s particular of hemorrhoids). If applied topically to external hemorrhoids, which will soften and help to manage bleeding and itching. Thanks to its soothing properties of anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and pain.

10. The crushed leaves of Neem are applied to lacerated wounds, because of its antiseptic properties, along with its power to promote healthy granulation tissue and scar healing.

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Rath Yatra festival 2016 would be celebrated in India on 6th of July,

                 Rath Yatra

Rath Yatra festival 2016 would be celebrated in India on 6th of July,

Ratha Yatra is a festival that involves moving deities Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra and Sudarshana on a chariot (called a rathaor rotho). In Sanskrit, Ratha means "chariot", and Yatra means "journey"; the festival usually involves an annual procession (journey) of a deity's idols. Other names for the festival include ratha jatra or chariot festival.

Ratha Yatra festival is also known as the Festival of Chariot, Car Festival, Dashavatar Yatra, Gundicha Jatra, Navadina Yatra and Ghosa Jatra which is celebrated every year in India with great enthusiasm, joy and happiness by the people. This festival is fully devoted to the Hindu God, Lord Jagannath and specially celebrated in Puri in the Orissa state of India. It is held annually at 2nd day of the bright fortnight of the month of Ashad (also called as Ashad Shukla Dwitiya).

Notable ratha yatras include the Ratha Yatra of Puri, the Dhamrai Ratha Yatra and the Ratha Yatra of Mahesh. The festival originated in Puri, Odisha. The English word juggernaut was originated from Jagannath that is related to the massive and unstoppable "ratha" carrying Jaggannath

This festival is celebrated to commemorate the Lord Jagannath on annual basis which involves the holy visit of the Lord Jagannath and completes at Gundicha Mata temple passing through the Mausi Maa Temple of Balagandi Chaka, Puri). The whole Ratha Jatra process involves the holy procession of Hindu deities Lord Puri Jagannath, Goddess Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra to the Gundicha Mata Temple. After nine days people bring Hindu deities with Ratha Jatra to the same place means Puri Jagannath temple. The returning process of Ratha Jatra to the Puri Jagannath temple is called as Bahuda Jatra.

History of Ratha Yatra Festival

Ratha Yatra festival is celebrated every year at second day of the shukla pakshya of the month of Ashad in the Orissa state of India at Puri to perform the procession of the Lord Jagannath chariots from the Puri Jagannath temple to the Gundicha Mata Temple through the Mausi Maa Temple. The chariots having the statue of Hindu God and Goddess are attractively decorated with colorful flowers. The procession held at Mausi Maa Temple for some time to complete the offerings.

                              

The holy procession includes highly decorated three chariots (for Lord Puri Jagannath, Goddess Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra) much similar to temple which are pulled by the electric system or by the devotees throughout the streets at Puri. This festival is celebrated to complete the journey of Lord Puri Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra including their sister Subhadra to their aunt’s home means Gundicha Mata Temple. This festival attracts a huge crowd of the devotees from all over the world to take part in the holy procession of the God as well as fulfill their heartily wishes. People involved in the chariots pulling sing devotional songs, mantras with the sound of drum

The observance of the Rath Yatra of Jagannath dates back to the period of the Puranas. Vivid descriptions of this festival are found in Brahma Purana, Padma Purana, and Skanda Purana. Kapila Samhita also refers to Rath Yatra. In Moghul period also, King Ramsingh of Jaipur, Rajasthan has been described as organizing the Rath Yatra in the 18th Century. In Orissa, Kings of Mayurbhanj and Parlakhemundi were organizing the Rath Yatra, though the most grand festival in terms of scale and popularity takes place at Puri.

Yatra is the most famous and ritual part of the worship in the Hindu religion. It may be of two types, one is the Yatra made by the devotees all around the temple and another one is the Chariot Yatra of the Hindu deities in a well decorated chariot from one temple to another. Ratha Yatra is also the second type of the Yatra celebrated annually to perform the journey of Lord Jagannath with Lord Balabhadra and sister Goddess Subhadra from the Puri Jagannath temple to the Gundicha Mata Temple. It is considered that the Vamana avatar means the dwarf form of the Lord Vishnu was an incarnation of the Lord Jagannath (who is free from the cycle of birth and death).

Yatra is the most significant event occurred during the special and sacred occasions of the Hindu religion. Lord Jagannath is the Hindu deity whom incarnation was the Lord Krishna on the earth in the Dwaper Yuga. This special festival of holy journey of the chariot is carried out by the devotees, saints, scriptures, poets chanting the holy mantras and devotional songs. People want to touch the chariot or even ropes pulling the chariot to be blessed by the God. Devotees sing a special Oriya song at this day while pulling the holy chariot on wheels.

• Ratha-Yatra (Puri), at Puri in the state of Odisha, India is the oldest, biggest and most visited Rath Yatra in the world. It attracts a large crowd.
• Rathayatra of Mahesh in Serampore, West Bengal Ratha Yatra is the second largest and oldest in the world.
• Rath Yatra, taking place in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
• Sukinda Ratha Yatra in Odisha: the second oldest in the world
• Dhamrai Jagannath Roth, at Dhamrai in Bangladesh, the most famous Rath Yatra in Bangladesh
• ISKCON Dhaka Ratha Yatra is the second famous Rath Yatra in Bangladesh.
• Bangalore Ratha Yatra, Bangalore's largest Ratha Yatra
• Rajbalhat Ratha Yatra, West Bengal, India.
• People of Bastar region observe Ratha yatra during Dussehara
• Radha Rani Rath Yatra, held at the Radha Madhav Dham temple near Austin, Texas, U.S.A.
• Ratha Yatra is also celebrated in Canada.

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Ker or Kera , Kair The best fruits come from the March-April crop

                                   Ker or Kair

Kair holds exceptional importance in several north Indian communities: the tree offers shade and solace from the scorching desert sun, prevents soil erosion, feeds the locals (and their livestock), provides building materials and medicinal remedies, offers employment through harvesting, and is even considered holy by certain tribes. Indeed, newly married couples give prayers in front of the tree, and they’re often placed throughout cemeteries and crematoriums.

Origin of Ker

Identifying the precise country of caper’s origin is near impossible, and in fact, the range of the fruit’s native habitat is wide. Many variants of capers are native to the Mediterranean basin in the west, parts of North Africa, and as far east as Central Asia. As a condiment, capers date back over 5,000 years.

Capparis decidua’s native region is a bit more limited, but not by much—it’s native to several countries including Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Iran, Jordan, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa and Sudan.

Availability of Ker in India

Ker grows wild and unattended throughout India’s arid northwest regions. In Rajasthan and Gujarat, the little berry is a staple within the rural economies. Over 7,000 tonnes of fruit are produced in the Rajasthan districts of Jodhpur and Bikaner alone.

A prime reason for the fruit’s significance is the tree’s ability to survive in regions where no other vegetation can: Indeed, its only growing requirements are low rainfall, shallow soils, and dry, hot temperatures.

Ker shrubs bear fruit two to three times a year, from March through April, and again from May through July. If the shrub bears for a third time, it will occur during the winter months from October through November.Heaviest fruiting occurs right before the monsoons arrive. As a survival mechanism, highest fruiting happens during the driest times of the year.

Where to find Ker in India

Ker seldom makes its way outside of India’s desert regions of the north, though southern markets receive occasional shipments when in season. Ker then becomes available in small to mid-size stores with decent varieties of vegetables. Unfortunately, the fruits shipped to the south are typically the large, poorer quality berries.

In the north, it’s exceptionally easy to find ker—almost every menu in Rajasthan, for instance, offers a dish featuring the fruit. The berry is most often available to consumers in its dry form, though finding fresh berries to pluck from the shrub isn’t difficult. The only challenge finding fresh ker berries in these instances is getting to the fruits before the roaming camels, goats and birds devour them.

The best fruits come from the March-April crop, and the fruits from the winter crops are of significantly poorer quality

Checking for Ripeness in Ker

Ker berries ripen from a small, green berry no bigger than a peppercorn to a much larger caper the size of a blueberry. When at its largest, the fruit ripens from green to white, lastly settling on a light cherry red.

Taste of Ker

Kairi is seldom eaten out of hand on account of its bitter, acrid taste. One bite inundates the mouth with a hot, peppery sensation. Peeling the fruit helps its edibility, but not by much. This is likely because the sugar content of ker is no more than two percent. When processed by heating or pickling, ker’s pungent, unpleasant bitterness yields to the piquant, zesty, sharp flavor most people associate with delicious robust caper berries. 

Small berries are actually more desirable and tastier than large, mature, hard ker fruits. When at their infancy, ker berries are at their most tender and succulent. These small fruits fetch a much higher price in the market.

Nutritional Value of Ker

A 2009 report published in the Journal of Horticulture and Forestry provides the following nutritional values for 100g of ker:

41.6 kcal

8.6g Protein

1.8g Carb

12.3g Fiber

7.81mg Vitamin C

55mg Calcium

57mg Phosphorous

negligible Iron

Health Benefits of Ker

Ker has been used in traditional medicine for centuries. Indian tribes have utilized fruits, roots, and bark to concoct various remedies. In Ayurveda, capers are hepatic stimulants and have been used for arteriosclerosis, as a diuretic, and as a kidney disinfectant.

According to a study published in the Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge, the plant acts as a carminative, tonic, emmenagogue, appetite stimulant and aphrodisiac. Parts of the plant have treated rheumatism, cough, and asthma. Pickled fruits treat constipation and other stomach ailments.

Another report titled A Medicinal Potency of Capparis decidua mentions additional uses: The bark treats inflammation and acute pain, whereas the roots treat fever and the buds alleviate boils. In Sudan, parts of the shrub remedy jaundice and joint infections.

How to Open/Cut:

Some peel large fresh ker berries before preparing, though small berries require no such preparation work. To prepare fresh or dried berries, soak overnight and then boil in salt. These steps soften the fruit, thereby enabling its use in subsequent recipes.

Storage:

Prepare fresh ker by pickling or soaking within a day of harvest. Store pickled capers either in white vinegar, brine, or keep them coated in coarse salt (see recipes below).

If purchasing pickled ker, keep at room temperature until opening the bottle. Place opened bottles in the refrigerator and abide by the listed expiration date.

Scientific Name:

Capparis decidua

Capparis tomentosa

Other Names:

Caper berry (English)

Dela (Delhi and Punjab)

Injet

Karir

Karil (Uttar Pradesh)

Ker (Gujarat)

Kair (Rajasthan)

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Monsoon Destination Jim Corbett National Park Famous Place of India

                           Jim Corbett National Park

Jim Corbett National Park is the oldest national park in India and was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park to protect the endangered Bengal tiger. It is located in Nainital district of Uttarakhand and was named after Jim Corbett who played a key role in its establishment. The park was the first to come under the Project Tiger initiative.

The park has sub-Himalayan belt geographical and ecological characteristics. An ecotourism destination, it contains 488 different species of plants and a diverse variety of fauna. The increase in tourist activities, among other problems, continues to present a serious challenge to the park's ecological balance.

Corbett has been a haunt for tourists and wildlife lovers for a long time. Tourism activity is only allowed in selected areas of Corbett Tiger Reserve so that people get an opportunity to see its splendid landscape and the diverse wildlife. In recent years the number of people coming here has increased dramatically. Presently, every season more than 70,000 visitors come to the park.

Corbett National Park comprises 520.8 km² (201.1 sq mi) area of hills, riverine belts, marshy depressions, grasslands and a large lake. The elevation ranges from 1,300 to 4,000 ft (400 to 1,220 m). Winter nights are cold but the days are bright and sunny. It rains from July to September.

Dense moist deciduous forest mainly consists of sal, haldu, peepal, rohini and mango trees. Forest covers almost 73% of the park, 10% of the area consists of grasslands. It houses around 110 tree species, 50 species of mammals, 580 bird species and 25 reptile species.

Just about 6 hours drive from Delhi, Jim Corbett National Park is a treat for wildlife lovers. The plus point of visiting Corbett during monsoon is that it’s not crowded. Rumour has it that Corbett National Park is closed during rainy season for safety reasons (and also partly because of breeding time) but out of the four zones - Dhikala, Bijrani, Durga Devi and Jhirna, Jhirna zone  is open for visitors all around the year.  You’ll be surprised to know that rafting in Jim Corbett is only possible during monsoon as Kosi river remains depthless rest of the year. A 3-hour long jeep safari is also prearranged every morning and evening that will let you go deep inside the forest to explore the serene flora and fauna. Riding on an elephant back is also possible during monsoon in Corbett as Elephant Safaris are also organized. It’s easier to spot animals like boars and antelopes and some bird species like parakeets, quails and barbets during the rainy season. 

Some areas of the park were formerly part of the princely state of Tehri Garhwal. The forests were cleared to make the area less vulnerable to Rohilla invaders. The Raja of Tehri formally ceded a part of his princely state to the East India Company in return for their assistance in ousting the Gurkhas from his domain. The Boksas—a tribe from the Terai—settled on the land and began growing crops, but in the early 1860s they were evicted with the advent of British rule.

Efforts to save the forests of the region began in the 19th century under Major Ramsay, the British Officer who was in-charge of the area during those times. The first step in the protection of the area began in 1868 when the British forest department established control over the land and prohibited cultivation and the operation of cattle stations. In 1879 these forests were constituted into a reserve forest where restricted felling was permitted.

In the early 1900s, several Britishers, including E. R. Stevans and E. A. Smythies, suggested the setting up of a national park on this soil. The British administration considered the possibility of creating a game reserve there in 1907. It was only in the 1930s that the process of demarcation for such an area got underway, assisted by Jim Corbett, who knew the area well. A reserve area known as Hailey National Park covering 323.75 km² (125.00 sq mi) was created in 1936, when Sir Malcolm Hailey was the Governor of United Provinces; and Asia's first national park came into existence. Hunting was not allowed in the reserve, only timber cutting for domestic purposes. Soon after the establishment of the reserve, rules prohibiting killing and capturing of mammals, reptiles and birds within its boundaries were passed.

The months of November through June are the perfect time to visit Corbett National Park as the park remains open to tourists during these periods only. The park is kept closed as the monsoon season approaches. The main reason for closure of the park during rest of the year is that the roads inside the park get washed away due to rain. The repair work starts after the monsoon and ends only by November till the roads are back in motorable condition.

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Hemis Gompa Festival People from all over the world come to Ladakh

                           Hemis Gompa Celebration

                                                  Date: 26 June To 27 June 2016

Hemis Monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery (gompa) of the Drukpa Lineage, located in Hemis, Ladakh, India. Situated 45 km from Leh, the monastery was re-established in 1672 by the Ladakhi king Sengge Namgyal. The annual Hemis festival honoring Padmasambhava is held here in early June

People from all over the world come to Ladakh to know more about Ladakh's famous culture and adventure, and the Buddhist culture here. The region is quite popular for the fairs and festivals that showcase its history and culture. One of the well-known cultural festivals is Ladakh's Hemis Festival. People specifically travel for this festival, which is a two-day festival, to Ladakh. This two-day festival will denote Buddhist guru Padmasambhava's birth anniversary. Festivities take place in the popular Hemis Gompa, which is situated at a distance of 45 kilometres away from Leh.

The two-day Hemis Festival celebrates victory of good over evil. One can see a number of people dressed in bright and colourful clothes to celebrate the festival. The Tibetan calendar indicates that on lunar month's tenth day, the Lama Head organises this Hemis Festival. In order to protect his people, the Tibetan Buddhism founder, Guru Padmasambhava, fought the evils. On his birth anniversary, all the people celebrate Hemis festival grandly.

In this manuscript Naropa (or Naro) meets the "dark blue" Tilopa (or Tillo), a tantric master, who gives Naropa 12 "great" and 12 "small" tasks to do in order to enlighten him to the inherent emptiness/illusoriness of all things. Naropa is depicted as the "abbott of Nalanda" (F. Wilhelm, Prüfung und Initiation im Buche Pausya und in der Biographie des Naropa, Wiesbaden 1965, p. 70), the university-monastery in today's Bihar, India, that flourished until the sacking by Turkish and Afghan Muslim forces. This sacking must have been the driving force behind Naropa's peregrination in the direction of Hemis. After Naropa and Tilopa met in Hemis they travelled back in the direction of a certain monastery in the now no longer existing kingdom of Maghada, called Otantra which has been identified as today's Otantapuri. Naropa is consered the founding father of the Kagyu-lineage of the Himalayan esoteric Buddhism. Hence Hemis is the main seat of the Kagyu lineage of Buddhism.Hemis Monastery existed before the 11th century. Naropa, the pupil of the yogi Tilopa, and teacher of the translator Marpa is connected with this monastery. A translation was made by A. Grünwedel (Nӑro und Tilo,: Festschrift Ernst Kuhn, München 1916) of Naropa's biography that was found in Hemis monastery.

On this particular day, a ritual is followed. People on this festival mask themselves, and sing and dance. The main highlight of the Hemis festival is the unique masked dance performed by Lamas. The dance performance depicted this festival's central theme of victory of good over evil. The Lamas gather around the central flagpole. This flagpole is located in the monastery's courtyard, where the singing and dance performances along with plays take place. One of Ladakh's oldest carnivals is the Hemis festival. This festival is organised in the monastery, which is 300-year-old and also is Ladakh's richest monastery.

The Hemis Festival is dedicated to Lord Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) venerated as the Dance Performance at Hemis Monastery representative reincarnate of Buddha. He is believed to have been born on the 10th day of the fifth month of the Monkey year as predicted by the Buddha Shakyamuni. It is also believed that his life mission was, and remains, to improve the spiritual condition of all living beings. And so on this day, which comes once in a cycle of 12 years, Hemis observes a major extravaganza in his memory. The observance of these sacred rituals is believed to give spiritual strength and good health. The Hemis festival takes place in the rectangular courtyard in front of the main door of the monastery. The space is wide and open save two raised square platforms, three feet high with a sacred pole in the center. A raised dais with a richly cushioned seat with a finely painted small Tibetan table is placed with the ceremonial items - cups full of holy water, uncooked rice, tormas made of dough and butter and incense sticks. A number of musicians play the traditional music with four pairs of cymbals, large-pan drums, small trumpets and large size wind instruments. Next to them, a small space is assigned for the lamas to sit.

The ceremonies begin with an early morning ritual atop the Gompa where, to the beat of drums and the resounding clash of cymbals and the spiritual wail of pipes, the portrait of "Dadmokarpo" or "Rygyalsras Rinpoche" is then ceremoniously put on display for all to admire and worship.

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