Ladakh hosts two-day Phyang monastery festival

Foreign tourists and local pilgrims flocked to Jammu and Kashmir's Ladakh District to observe the two-day annual religious festival of Phyang monastery which concluded on Monday. The main attraction of the festival held from July 31 to August 1 was a sacred mask dance or Chhams performed by the Monks wearing colourful costumes and masks of different idols of Gods. Besides, wall paintings, wall hangings and other decorative items were attractions at the festival. Established in 1515, the monastery was offered to a monastic community that paved the way for the foundation of Digung teachings in Ladakh. It also contains numerous sacred shrines inside the monastery.