Festival · Leh, Ladakh
Dosmoche
Ladakh's winter festival of the scapegoat, held at Leh Palace in the last days of the Tibetan year. Monks perform masked dances, and a tall thread-cross offering is carried out of town and burnt to drive away the misfortunes of the old year.
Photo: Goutam1962 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · CommonsDosmoche takes place over the last two days of the twelfth month of the Tibetan calendar, just before the Tibetan new year, usually in February or early March. In Leh, the dances are held in the courtyard below the old palace, and the town turns out in coats and fur hats to watch. Likir Monastery and Diskit in Nubra hold their own versions at the same time.
The centre of the festival is the dos, an offering made of wood, coloured thread and dough figures, built in the shape of a tall cross of threads. Monks dance around it with masks and drums, and on the final day it is carried in procession beyond the edge of town and burnt, taking with it the evil and bad luck of the year that is ending.
This is winter Ladakh: temperatures in Leh fall to −10 °C or lower at night, many guesthouses are closed, and flights are the only practical way in. It is also a chance to see a festival attended almost entirely by local families.
Tips for the day
- Fly in and rest 48 hours before the festival; winter cold makes altitude symptoms feel worse.
- Stay in a hotel with heating that is open in winter, and confirm it before booking.
- Wear proper winter boots: you will stand on frozen ground for hours.
Where it happens
Leh
Leh is Ladakh's capital and airport town at 3,500 m on the Indus. Spend your first two nights here resting before going higher. The old town, Leh Palace, Shanti Stupa and the Indus monasteries fill three easy days. Guesthouses start around ₹1,200 a night.
Stay nearby
Photo: Anirvan Shukla · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Commons
Budget
Zostel Leh
Zostel's Leh hostel offers dorm beds and private rooms within walking distance of Main Bazaar, with a common area …
Photo: Bernard Gagnon Canon EOS REBEL T4i · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Mid
Stok Palace Heritage Hotel
Rooms inside part of Stok Palace, the home of Ladakh's former royal family since the 19th century, and in the orch…
Questions
About Dosmoche
When is Dosmoche held?
Dosmoche is held on the 28th and 29th days of the twelfth Tibetan lunar month, usually in February and sometimes early March. Exact dates move each year and are published in the Ladakh tourism festival calendar. Check current status before you travel.
Where is Dosmoche celebrated?
The main celebration is at Leh, below Leh Palace, with masked dances and the procession to burn the thread-cross offering. Likir Monastery and Diskit Monastery in Nubra hold Dosmoche at the same time. Reaching Diskit in winter depends on Khardung La being open.
How cold is Leh during Dosmoche?
Very cold. Days in February are often around −2 to 5 °C and nights fall to −10 to −15 °C. Pack thermal layers, a down jacket, warm boots, gloves and a hat. Choose a hotel open in winter with reliable heating.
Can tourists attend Dosmoche?
Yes. Dosmoche is a public religious festival and visitors are welcome to watch respectfully. Dress modestly and warmly, do not walk into the dance area, avoid flash photography and follow volunteers' directions. Most of the audience is local, so leave space for families.