. Hemis Festival is a two-day festival that is held every year on the tenth day of Tse-Chu, the lunar month in the Tibetan calendar. The Indian Buddhist mystic Guru Padmasambhava was born on this day in history. The Hemis Monastery is the venue for this celebration, and it is exquisitely decorated. Locals congregate in the monastery courtyard dressed in traditional garb. To the sounds of drums, cymbals, and horns, the lamas perform cham, or masked dances. Plays are occasionally performed for the audience’s entertainment. A standout feature of the celebration are the colorful outfits that the lamas wear. Their captivating performances are enhanced by the combination of their ornate headgear, masks, and lengthy robes. Fascinatingly, each mask has a unique meaning.