The Matho Nagrang Festival is one of the most unique and spiritually intense festivals of Ladakh, celebrated annually at Matho Monastery, located about 26 km southeast of Leh. Observed on the 15th day of the first month of the Tibetan lunar calendar (usually in February or March), the festival is deeply rooted in Tibetan Buddhist traditions and is renowned for its rare oracle rituals. Matho Monastery belongs to the Sakya sect of Tibetan Buddhism and was founded in the early 16th century. The Matho Nagrang Festival is dedicated to the protector deities of the monastery, especially Rongtsan, believed to safeguard the region and its people. Unlike many Ladakhi festivals that focus on masked dances, Matho Nagrang is distinct for its oracle tradition, making it one of the most extraordinary religious events in the Himalayas.
The highlight of the festival is the appearance of two monks who serve as oracles. After days of intense meditation and ritual preparation, these monks enter a trance-like state, believed to be possessed by the protector deities. During this sacred trance, the oracles make prophecies about the well-being of the region, agriculture, natural calamities, and social harmony for the coming year. Witnessing the oracles, often blindfolded and performing acts considered humanly impossible, evokes deep reverence among devotees and visitors alike. Locals place immense faith in these predictions, which are carefully recorded and remembered throughout the year.
