Korzok Monastery

Korzok is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery and ancient village on the western bank of Tsomoriri lake in Leh District, Ladakh, India. Korzok is situated at 15,000 feet (4,572 m) and houses a Shakyamuni Buddha and other statues and is home to about 35 monks.

The Korzok Gu-stor festival is held at the monastery and attracts many Chang-pa, the Tibetan plateau nomadic herdsmen. The festival lasts for two days and ends with the dismemberment and dispersal of the 'Storma' (sacrificial cake) by the leader of the Black Hat dancers in a ceremony called 'Argham' (Killing). cite web|url=http://footlooseindia.com/ladakhtours/korzokgustor.htm|title=Korzok Gustor Festival|date=2007|publisher=Footloose India|accessdate=September 1|accessyear=2008 ] The ceremony symbolizes the destruction of evil and pays homage to the the assassination of the Tibetan apostate King Lang-dar-ma, by a Buddhist monk in the mid 9th century. At the festival masks are worn by the dancers to represent the Dharmapalas (guardian divinities of the Buddhist pantheon), and the patron divinities of the Geluk-pa sect of Tibetan Buddhism.

References

External links

* [http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Korzok+ Flickr images]
* [http://www.india9.com/i9show/Korzok-Monastery-61186.htm India9.com]