Ladakh is a state which has a large population and the religion followed here by the people is Buddhism especially Tibetan Buddhism. In Ladakh there are various Buddhist temples where Lord Buddha is worshipped as a deity. Lord Buddha got enlightenment under a peepal tree and attained Nirvana(freedom from the cycle of birth and death).Various idols of Lord Buddha especially known as Bodhisattvas, are also worshipped in Gompas in Ladakh.

There are many tales and stories of various Gods and evil in mythology of Tibetan Buddhism. People disguise themselves in both good and evil marks forms and these stories are enacted during the annual festivals of various Gompas in Ladakh.

Dalai Lama was born in a small village in Taktser in north eastern Tibet . His Holiness was recognized at a very small age as incarnation of his predecessor the thirteen Dalai Lama. He is considered as a supreme leader of the people of Ladakh . He is also considered as the living incarnation of Buddha. The present Dalai Lama was originally known as Tenzin Gyatso who was brought to Lhasa and was declared as the new spiritual leader of the Buddhists of Ladakh on Feb 22nd 1940

The Tibetans choosed Dalai Lama as their political as well as spiritual leader due to his presence in Chinese occupation. In March 1959, Dalai Lama came India after leaving Tibet . Ever since, he has led an international campaign against the Chinese occupation of Tibet . In 1989 Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his struggle against peaceful liberation of Tibet .

Some Common Buddhist Terms are:

Gompas: The Buddhists of Ladakh worship their gods in Gompas. Gompas are religious places where monks and nuns live and engage themselves in meditation. Gompas also play an important role in educational as well as economical life. Many statues of Buddha called Bodhisattvas are worshipped in gompas.Many tourists visit these Gompas to view various museums and beautiful Buddhists arts. Gompas are also places where most of the Buddhists annual festivals are celebrated with colorful masked dances .

Chortens and Stupas: The basic structure of Chortens and Stupas consists of dome shaped structure. Thus chortens are Tibetan Bhuddhists structure built in memory of Bhuddhist s teachings.These stupas consists of relics of Buddha and other holy men. Buddhists holy flags are seen hoisted on these Chortens and flowers and diyas are decorated around them.

Thangka: A thangka is a religious painted and embroidered banner made on a cotton canvas and hung on a monastery .It is also carried on a procession by the Lamas. A thangka tells us about the life of Buddha.It is rectangular in shape. The task of painting a thangka requires lots of attention and discipline.

Mandala: A Mandala is a symbolic representation of the Universe according to Buddhist iconography. A colorful design made from sand on the floor of a monastery or painted on a wall or screen, a mandala is believed to have mystical powers that aid in meditation concentration and prayer. Mandalas often depict a palace with four gates, which open to the four principal directions of the Earth. Mandalas are used in the rituals of a monks initiation and are called the 'Architecture of Enlightenment' Mandalas made of sand are usually swept away after a prayer ceremony to symbolize the impermanence of life. The designs of the Mandala follow an ancient tradition and consist of concentric circles and intersecting lines. The process of learning to create a Mandala is part of the training of every Tibetan monk.

Central Institute of Buddhist Studies:

The Central Institute of Buddhist Studies in Ladakh is the premier for the study of Buddhism in Ladakh. Established in 1959, the institute was created by the combined effort of ten important Gompas of Ladakh. Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, India 's first Prime Minister, extended the support of the Indian Government to this institute of learning. The Institute currently offers courses from primary education to Doctoral Degrees and has 29 Gompas and nunneries affiliated to it. The Central Institute of Buddhist Studies is located in Choglamsar, about 8 kilometers from Leh.

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