Every year, people from all over India gather at the banks of Sindhu River in Leh to celebrate the three-day Sindhu Darshan festival. This year, the festival is set to take place between June 12 to 14. The annual festivities are held in the month of June on a full moon day in Shey Manla, located about 8km from Leh.
During the festival, the banks of the trans-Himalayan Sindhu river receives a huge footfall of people from various parts of the country who gather here to showcase a variety of art and culture.
Participants from various states carry river water from their place of origin in earthen pots and immerse them in the Sindhu river. The amalgamation of all the rivers symbolises unity and multi-dimensional cultural identity. The festival is a celebration of the river Sindhu which is also referred to as the Indus river. The main reason behind Sindhu Darshan Festival is to celebrate the river because it is an important historical and cultural symbol in India. It has tremendous religious significance, having been worshipped for centuries. The Postal Department of Government of India had issued a postage stamp depicting Sindhu Darshan Festival in July 1999.
The festivities feature cultural events such as music shows, dance performances, and art exhibitions all portraying a beautiful blend of Buddhist, Christian, Sunni, Shia, Hindu and Sikh culture. The first day commences on the full moon day of Guru Purnima with a reception ceremony held by Ladakh Buddhist Association, Shia Majlis, Christian Moravian Church, Sunni Anjuman, Hindu Trust, and Sikh Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee. This is followed by prayers conducted by senior lamas at the Sindhu Ghat.
Performances from artists from across the country add charm of the second day which has a line-up of cultural exchange programmes followed by a puja. The final day of the festival is jam-packed with foreign and domestic tourists as grand celebrations are hosted to laud India&rsquos cultural pluralism. The scenic landscape of this attraction seems almost surreal during this time of the year. The locals also celebrate the Sindhu Darshan festival to applaud the soldiers who protect the area around the Sindhu River.
An interesting piece of information Some shots of the Hindi film Dil Se were filmed in the backdrop of the first Sindhu Darshan Festival in 1997.