493
A oracle dancing in trance on a ledge at the Thiksey monastery during its annual Gustor festival
Undoubtedly the most special moment of the festival is when the Oracle appears. A chosen lama is possessed by a certain deity during the day of the festival and he goes into a trance state. The possessed lama then answers questions put forth by the people regarding the future prospects for ladakh and the local village for the coming year. He is also said to sometimes answer personal question put forth by the public but puts on a "frenzied display of anger" when asked skeptical questions designed to test himWhile in the trance state the oracle also performs astounding feats of acrobatics like dancing on the end of a ledge high up in the monastery (sometimes blindfolded) and even cutting themselves with knives (they supposedly heals the next day when the lama wakes up in the morning).
492
Group of Ladakhis gathered in the crowd praying at the appearance of the Oracle during the Thiksey gustor festival in Ladakh.
Undoubtedly the most special moment of the festival is when the Oracle appears. A chosen lama is possessed by a certain deity during the day of the festival and he goes into a trance state. The possessed lama then answers questions put forth by the people regarding the future prospects for ladakh and the local village for the coming year. He is also said to sometimes answer personal question put forth by the public but puts on a "frenzied display of anger" when asked skeptical questions designed to test himWhile in the trance state the oracle also performs astounding feats of acrobatics like dancing on the end of a ledge high up in the monastery (sometimes blindfolded) and even cutting themselves with knives (they supposedly heals the next day when the lama wakes up in the morning).
488
Cheeky Devils To Cheer The Crowds at the Thiksey Gustor festival in Ladakh
Granted, the festival proceedings can be a solemn affair. So inorder to lighten the mood they conduct performances where novice monks dressed as cheeky devils come out to work the crowds. They perform their own version of the dance: hop, skip and jumping from one corner of the courtyard to the other. Every once in a while, they go among the crowd to perform mischef, getting into mock fights with the audience and sometimes they snatch and run off with the audience's belongings like caps and snacks etc. All this is carried out in good sprit and works up huge bouts of laughter from the crowd making this definitely one of the memorable moments from the festival.
489
Cheeky Devils To Cheer The Crowds at the Thiksey Gustor festival in Ladakh
Granted, the festival proceedings can be a solemn affair. So inorder to lighten the mood they conduct performances where novice monks dressed as cheeky devils come out to work the crowds. They perform their own version of the dance: hop, skip and jumping from one corner of the courtyard to the other. Every once in a while, they go among the crowd to perform mischef, getting into mock fights with the audience and sometimes they snatch and run off with the audience's belongings like caps and snacks etc. All this is carried out in good sprit and works up huge bouts of laughter from the crowd making this definitely one of the memorable moments from the festival.
