Matho Nagrang Festival of Ladakh

The Matho Nagrang Festival 2025 is one of Ladakh’s most mystical and vibrant Buddhist festivals, celebrated at Matho Monastery, the only Sakyapa sect monastery in the region. Known as the Oracle Festival, it is deeply rooted in spirituality, divine prophecies, and colorful Buddhist traditions. The highlight of the festival is the appearance of two oracles (Rongtsan) who enter a state of trance and predict the future for individuals and the community.

Matho Nagrang Festival 2025 - Dates & Venue

Dates: March 13-14, 2025
Venue: Matho Monastery, Ladakh
Significance: Annual Tibetan Buddhist festival showcasing mystical oracles, Cham dances, and sacred rituals.

About The Matho Nagrang Festival

The Matho Nagrang Festival has been celebrated for over five centuries and is deeply rooted in the Sakyapa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The festival is believed to have started as a way to seek divine guidance from the spirits through the oracles.

The tradition of oracles (Rongtsan) is unique to this festival. Every four years, the monastery selects two monks through a lottery system, who undergo two months of intense meditation, fasting, and isolation. This preparation is believed to purify their souls and prepare them to become vessels for divine spirits.

On the day of the festival, these oracles enter a trance state, perform supernatural acts, and predict the future. The locals believe in their prophecies, which often include guidance on social matters, natural calamities, and individual life decisions.

Highlights of Matho Nagrang Festival 2025

The Mystical Oracles (Rongtsan)

• The main attraction of Matho Nagrang is the appearance of the two oracles.
• They enter a deep trance-like state, believed to be possessed by deities, and predict future events.
• Their prophecies guide the local community, offering solutions to personal and regional problems.
• They perform supernatural acts, including:

1. Walking on the monastery’s rooftop blindfolded.
2. Handling sharp weapons without harm.
3. Demonstrating unusual strength and agility.

Masked Cham Dances (Mystical Mask Dance)

• The monks perform the sacred Cham dance, wearing colorful silk robes and fearsome masks representing deities and spiritual beings.
• These masked dances narrate Buddhist legends, symbolizing the victory of good over evil.
• The hypnotic drumbeats, chants, and energetic movements create a divine atmosphere.

Rituals and Offerings at Matho Monastery

• Monks conduct purification rituals to ward off evil spirits.
• Fire offerings and sacred chants fill the monastery with spiritual energy.
• Devotees offer butter lamps, flowers, and prayers seeking blessings for the year ahead.

Cultural Extravaganza

• Folk music and dance performances showcasing Ladakh’s rich heritage.
• Local handicraft and food stalls featuring traditional Ladakhi cuisine and souvenirs.
• Pilgrims and tourists gather to experience the unique blend of mysticism and culture.

The Oracle Matho Nagrang Tradition

The Process of Selecting Oracles

• The selection of oracles is a sacred process.
• Every four years, willing monks submit their names for selection.
• Two names are drawn by lottery, and the chosen monks go into two months of meditation, fasting, and isolation.
• They are trained by senior monks in deep spiritual practices.

Supernatural Abilities of the Oracles

• The oracles enter a state of divine possession on the festival day.
• Blindfolded, they run across rooftops, perform acrobatics, and handle weapons.
• The locals trust their prophecies and seek their guidance on life, family, and regional matters.

About Matho Monastery

Matho is 26kms away from Ladakh and is named after the Matho Monastery situated there. Matho means 'many happiness' and is the only monastery of the Sakya sect in Ladakh-one of the four main sects of Tibetan Buddhism. The monastery also has a museum with centuries-old Thangpa, which is a painting done on silk tapestry. The painting depicts deities or mandalas.

How To Reach Matho Monastery

Personal cabs or local buses from Leh are the most convenient and cheap means of transportation.
Leh Airport is the nearest airport. Flights from Delhi to Leh or From Jammu are advisable.

Once you reach the village Matho, you can trek up to the Matho Monastery.

This is a famous mystic tradition of the mountain region of India and is the only time people from far off places come to visit this place. It is difficult for some people to believe this ritual, but for the simple natives of Matho, it is a fact of life!

Video of Matho Nagrang Festival