Sindhu Darshan Festival

Sindhu Darshan Festival, organized annually in Ladakh, aims at projecting the river Sindhu (Indus), as the symbol of communal harmony, national peace and multi dimensional co-existence. Along with enhancing tourism in the place, this celebration also works as an occasion to salute those brave soldiers, who have died during the war at Kargil and Siachen.

Sindhu Darsan Festival, one of the most important events in Ladakh, is basically the Puja of the Sindhu (Indus) river, that originates from Mansarovar, Tibet. With the help of the government of Jammu and Kashmir, and the ministry of tourism and culture, Government of India, the festival promises an array of performing arts. The festival is viewed as the part of National Integration Program.

The celebration includes devotees bringing water from the major rivers flowing in their states and pouring it into the river Sindhu, thus mingling it with the water of the rest of the country. This is an important gesture in strengthening the national harmony. The festival also helps in bringing out the beauty of Ladakh to the rest of the world.

This festival started in the year 1997, takes place during 'Guru Poornima', the full moon day , in India. The Sindhu Darshan Festival continues for three days. This year it is going to start from the 1st of June and will be celebrated till the 3rd of June.

The first day of the festival sees the reception of the devotees from all over the country, on the bank of the river, near Shey. As the reception procedure the Buddhist lamas perform prayers on the bank of the river. This is followed by the cultural programs performed by the participants from all over the nation. After the lunch being served, at the end of the performances the participants are taken to the sight seeing tour to the beautiful valleys of Ladakh. The day comes to an apt end with the bonfire.

The second day of the Sindhu Darshan Festival is marked by the Puja of the river Sindhu, that is followed by another set of cultural programs and a sight seeing tour.

The festival comes to an end with the departure of the pilgrims and the participants on the third day.

Calendar 2007 Events January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 Calendar 2008 Events