Mani Rimdu Festival Trekking in Nepal:Festival Trekking in Tengboche Monastery in Nepal

The Sherpas belong to the Nying-Mapa sect of Tibetan Buddhist which is self an outgrowth of the Mahayana tradition Guru Rinpoche (Padma-Sambhawa an Indian yogi) is regarded as the founder of this old sect and spiritual leader. Legendarily born of a lotus in the middle of a lake, it is to Guru Rinpoche that the Prayers and Mani wall inscriptions are address as "OM MANI PADME HUM", Hail to the jewel of the lotus. Religious book recount that Guru Rinpoche was a powerful Magician and sorcerer.

Sherpas celebrate many ceremonies in the region, including marriage ceremonies, Funerals, manning of a child, driving out evil spirits, obtaining Sonam (Merit) and other offerings to be made in the name of the local gods.

Mani-Rimdu Festival, a very important festival to the Sherpas, falls on the full moon day of Tibetan ninety month (October/November). The three-day celebrations of Mani Rimdu follow the ten-day non-stop prayer sessions addressed to the patron deities - seeking “blessing for the good of all mankind". The protagonists of all are Guru Rinpoche, the founder of Vajrayan Buddhism in Tibet. Masked Lamas of Khumbu region perform various religious rituals amidst dancing and singing.

The first celebration of Mani-Rimdu at Monastery of Tengboche (Everest region) seems to have taken place some time in 1930. It originates from Rongbuk Monastery in Tibet Mani-Rimdu is a prayer ceremony where the Monks put on masks representing divine personages and perform ritual dances. The spectators of devotion come from many villages to gain Sonam (merit) from the head Lama's blessing and making corn and grain contributions to the Monk's community. Mani-Rimdu normally takes place every year in the month of November (full moon, it can be changed depending upon Tibetan Calendar) and at-least for three days. This period coincides with the cessation of work in the village at the end of harvesting. Mani-Rimdu is the only big social event that draws together large crowds from all villagers in the Khumbu region.

Mountain Sherpa Trekking & Expeditions is a best package trips operator agency in Nepal with more than 15 years of successful experience will show you real facts of Everest trekking in Nepal. Your trekking holiday in Nepal with us will cover all services from Arrival to Final departure. We provide fully comfortable vehicles and domestic flights services, excellent guide services and of course deluxe hotel accommodations in all city and best selected Lodges/Guest house Accommodations during trekking trips in Everest region of Nepal. Trekking in Everest region is available from minimum 11 nights/12 days to maximum 29 nights/30 days. Based on your duration of Holiday, we can customized or design any trekking program suit to your timeframe of holiday and interest. Our entire trip itinerary has included some of tourists’ attractions monuments and cultural, religious, historical and UNESCO heritage sites during a day Kathmandu city tour before trek. However it is still possible to add any thing that we have missed to add if you recommend anything. We always put our all efforts to make your trip really comfortable, memorable and journey of lifetime experience during holiday in Nepal. Based on your previous trek experiences, we can design short Itinerary or can make long itinerary. We completely follow your ideas, plans, program and whatever your requirements, interest and timeframe. In fact, we organize one of safe, comfortable and Enjoyable lifetime trekking trips in Nepal.

So, come and lets us give opportunity to serve you well to celebrate your most important trekking holiday in Nepal by providing our great cordial services from arrival to final departure. Take a look and choose any treks in Everest region including very popular Mani Rimdu festival from following special Everest trek packages.

Tiji Festival Trekking in Nepal:Mustang Festival Trekking

The Tiji festival is a three-day ritual known as "The chasing of the Demons" that centers on the Tiji myth. The myth tells of a deity named Dorje Jono who must battle against his demon father to save the Kingdom of Mustang from destruction. The demon father wreaked havoc on Mustang by bringing a shortage of water (a highly precious resource in this very dry land) and causing many resulting disasters from famine to animal loss. Dorje Jono eventually beats the demon and banishes him from the land. Tiji is a celebration and reaffirmation of this myth and throughout the festival the various scenes of the myth will be enacted. It is of course timed to coincide with the end of the dry winter/spring season and will usher in the wetter monsoon season (the growing season for Mustang). Tiji comes from the word "ten che" meaning ‘the hope of Buddha Dharma prevailing in all worlds' and is effectively a spring renewal festival.

First day of Tiji Festival at Mustang

Early in the afternoon, horns resounded, announcing the two twelve-foot copper dunchens, with their elephantine blurting, followed by two double-reeled horns, all accompanied by drum and cymbals.Next, an ancient and enormous tanka three stories high was unrolled down the entire south wall of the square. The thanka portrayed Padma Sambhava or (Guru Rimpoche) who brought this ceremony to Tibet in the 8th century."

At mid-afternoon, in high wind and blowing dust, eleven lamas in maroon and gold, wearing high red hats, came from the palace and took their places along the wall beneath the thanka, with Tashi Tenzing on the elevated seat just in the center.

As the monks and lamas commence chanting, twelve more monks come from the palace in maroon and royal blue and glittering gold brocade, with cymbal-shaped hats decked with upright peacock plumes. Soon they withdraw, to be replaced by the masked dancers who" start the portrayal of the Tiji myth.

Dorje Jono repels the demon through the power of his magical dancing — he dances fifty-two separate dances, one of them in ten different bodies, each with a different head. As the dances end, Dorje Jono kills the demon, after which his people are relieved of their plague of misfortunes, water becomes plentiful once more, and the balance and harmony of existence are restored.

First day of Tiji Festival at Mustang
On the second day of Tiji, numbers of Loba have arrived from the outlying hamlets, and the small square is thronged with wild beautiful people, with all of the women and children, at least, in traditional dress.

The King of Mustang "wears a whole crown of tiny river pearls set off by dozens of large red coralline tones interspersed with matched ornaments of turquoise.

The costumes and masks, the twelve-foot horns, the gold cups of wheat, the butter cakes, the snow peaks and wind and dust and sun, the mehti, snow leopard, snow pigeons, saligrams, the dying glacier and the desert ruins, the drunks and rajas and foreigners, the dogs and yaks. Tantra!

 First day of Tiji Festival at Mustang
On the third day, Tiji ends with the ceremonial destruction of the evil remains, represented by some long black yak hair and red torma cakes minced to a dark red gurry. The demons red remnants are set out on an old tiger skin, where-upon they are attacked by bow and arrow, slings, and the old guns. The poor devils remains are over- turned upon the ground, each time to a wild cannonade from the old muzzle-loaders and a wave of cheers and smoke.

Mountain Sherpa Trekking & Expeditions has been regularly organizing this festival every year including very popular mustang trekking.