Galdan Namchot is a festival celebrated in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir which falls in the month of December. This socio-religious event is observed on the birthday and the Budhahood of ‘Tsongkha-pa’, the Tibetan saint-scholar who founded the ‘Gelucks-pa’ school of Tibetan Buddhism during the 14th century. It is the beginning of the New Year celebrations. It extends to the festival of ‘Losar’ and ends with that of Leh ‘Domoche’. During this festival it is a custom to prepare the traditional Ladakhi Thukpa dish in every home and to serve it to the visiting friends and relatives.
[Source all india (80) 18-Feb-05]
