Mashro Gompa of Ladakh is located on
the opposite bank of the Indus River across the Thiksey Monastery. It
dates back to the first part of the 16th century. The Mashro Monastery
of Leh Ladakh boasts of an amazing compilation of an array of ancient
and very beautiful thankas, of which some are even in the form of
'mandalas'. The monastery also serves as the venue for a festival of
oracles, which takes place on an annual basis.
The festival, held in early March, is considered to be one of the
important events in the religious calendar of the Ladakhis. In the
preparation for the festivals, young monks are selected as oracles.
These monks are required to go through meditation, fasting and ritual
purification for a long period of time, to gain spiritual strength. At
the time of the festival, they carry out amazing exploits with the help
of swords and knives, cavorting blindfolded along narrow parapets.
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