Mani Rimdu is considered as
one of the most important
festivals of the Sherpas of
the Everest Region. It is
observed in the month of
October or November. The
Everest Region is divided
into two parts; Solu and
Khumbu. In Solu, the
festival is observed at
Chiwong Monastery located at
an altitude of approximately
10,000 ft above the sea
level which takes about 3
hours from Phaplu airport, 4
hours walk from Junbesi and
3 days walk from Jiri.
Similarly, in Khumbu, the
same festival is observed at
Tyangboche Monastery either
in October or in November.
The Monastery is located at
an altitude of 13,000 ft
high above the sea level,
which takes 4 days walk
including 1-day rest in
Namche from Lukla. The date
of this festival is fixed
only after the Tibetan
Calendar comes out with the
New Year festival Losar
every year.
Mani Rimdu is the most
important festival in
Tengboche. It consists of a
nine day meditation cycle
and ends with a public
blessing ceremony and the
world renowned Mask Dances
as a spectacular dance
drama, performed by lamas
(monks) wearing the masks of
deities at Tengboche
Monastery. The lamas invoke
the god of compassion, which
assures the village a long
life, peace and good
fortune.
It is a colorful, noisy
occasion that takes place in
the most spectacular of
settings. Performing by the
monks of Chiwong and
Tengboche monasteries, it
depicts the victory of
Buddhism over the ancient
'Bon' religion. The festival
lasts for three days and is
well attended by the whole
Sherpa community of Khumbu.
In the chill of dusk, masked
dancers make their first
appearance on the bare
courtyard of the monastery
before performing, for hours
on end, in an elaborate
ritualistic retelling of the
story of Buddhism's triumph
over Bon, Tibet's ancient
animistic religion.
,
The following are the
festive activities of Mani
Rimdu events every year
based on the Tibetan
calendar:
Day 1st: Making of the sand
Mandala and Tormas
(Sculptures made of colored
butter and barley flour
representing symbolic
offerings)
Day 2nd: Drupchen ceremonies
start.
Day 3rd: Practice dancing
without masks
Day 4th: Wong (blessing
ceremony for the general
public)
Day 5th: Famous Mask Dances
open to the public from
10.00 A.M. to 17.00 P.M.
During the whole night there
is traditional dancing by
the Sherpa community
The Tengboche Rinpoche,
Abbot of Tengboche
Monastery, will fix these
dates. These dates may vary
by one or two days depending
on local events.
Kindly please contact for
more details regarding the
festival date, itinerary
program, price and over all
package. |
