Sindhu Darshan Festival

The Sindhu Darshan festival is hosted every year at the settlement of Shey Manla, a town that lies less than 10km outside the city centre of Leh. Dance, music, and art are all performed at ghats that stand on the banks of the Indus River. 

There are a few ways to get to Leh; by road, by train, or by air to the closest airport, Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport. 

• One can get to Leh by road, which always promises to be a thrilling experience, via bike, car, bus, or jeeps. Buses run from both Srinagar and Jammu. There are also bus services that run directly from Delhi, 1200km away.

• Alternatively, you can take the train from major cities like Delhi, Kolkata, or Mumbai to the closest railway station at Jammu Tawi, 700km away from Ladakh. The rest of the journey may be taken by hiring a private vehicle.

• Flights are available from Jammu, Srinagar, Chandigarh, and Delhi amongst other places to Kushak Bakula Rimpochee Airport. Taxi services can be hired from the airport to your lodging and accommodation.

How is the Sindhu Darshan Festival Celebrated?

Festivities & Events 

People spanning the breadth and width of the country come to take part in the Sindhu Darshan Festival. Festival-goers bring clay pots that are filled with water from their native states. These pots are then submerged in the Sindhu river. A tribute to India's age-old values of tolerance and communal harmony, the Sindhu Darshan festival is a 3-day celebration packed with festivities and practices steeped in tradition.

The first day of the ceremony is marked by a reception involving all those taking part in the festival and prayers are conducted on the riverbanks by 50 of the most senior lamas. This is followed by a bonfire that takes place at night. The second day consists of an organised sightseeing tour allowing the participants an opportunity to soak in the splendour of Ladakh's natural beauty.

A cultural program that invites the participants of the Sindhu Darshan festival to immerse themselves in Ladakhi tradition, followed by a puja, rounds off the penultimate day. The grand celebrations that mark the end of the festival attract a large number of tourists. Most participants make their preparations to leave on the third day. 

The Significance of the Sindhu Darshan Festival

The Sindhu River is a symbol and icon of India's cultural pluralism, and the festival exalts the colourful, rich, and varied diversity of this country. The first day's reception ceremony is officiated by a committee that is made up of various religious communities, including Buddhist, Shiite, and Sunni Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Sikh associations. The cultural exchange program on the second day involves artists from across the country showcasing their art and their wares. 

History of Sindhu Darshan Festival