The Mythical TIJI festival Mustang

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Trip Facts
  • Duration 17 Days
  • Destination Nepal
  • Difficulty Level Strenuous
  • Max Altitude 4280m
  • Trip Start and End Kathmandu-kathmandu
  • Best Season April - October
Highlights

Stunning landscape and rich cultural heritage, Dzong (fortress), gompas (Monasteries) of Mustang, Mt. Dhaulagiri (8167m),Mt. Annapurna range, wall city of Lo Manthang, Chortens (reliquaries shrines),

The Mythical TIJI festival Mustang

According to the Tibetan calendar the upcoming Tiji festival place from date not yet defind

Travelling is not only about how far you go; it’s also about how much you know. While in Nepal, go to the Himalayas; learn about the Himalayan people, their culture, food, attire, and festivals. The culture and tradition of Nepalese in the high Himalayas is quite similar to that of Tibet. The unrolling of Thangka and the mask dances are common cultural practices in Nepal Himalayas as well as Tibet.

Tiji Festival, celebrated in Lo-Manthang of Upper Mustang region of Nepal, is among the most sought-after festivals in Mustang.
 

Lamas are perferming Tiji festival danse
Lamas are perferming Tiji festival danse

Once known as "forbidden Kingdom" Lo-Mantang is now a Rural Municipality of Lo Manthang. The festival is celebrated in May or June as per The Lunar (Tibetan) calendar. The festival was started by King Samduk Rabten in 17th Century to celebrate the victory of Lord Buddha’s Incarnation, Dorje Sonam, over a demon called "MAN TAM RU'' a vicious dangerous Creature that consumed human flesh and brought drought and storms . This festival is celebrated for three days where Lamas draped in their traditional attire from the “Choedhe Monastery” offer Prayers for world Peace and also for overcoming any obstacles in the future.

The first day of the festival is marked to represent the harassment done by the MAN TAM RU through a dance called "Tsa Chham" followed by the masked demons swinging, wooden swords wildly toward the terrified spectators. Mustang Royal family and all the villagers of seven provinces of Upper mustang (Lo Chhodun) participate in this sacred dance with ritual.

Similarly, on the second day of the festival, Lamas perform a dance called Nga Chham, portraying the birth of Dorje Sonam, an incarnation of Lord Buddha, as a son of the Demon, There are peaceful steps of dance in the first activity (Toele).  

As well as, on the third day of the festival represents an attempt to return the Kingdom to Lord Buddha from the demon's hand. The Lamas chant prayers and perform almost 52 separate religious dances to chase demons from Lo Manthang, Lamas use ancient musket to fire an arrow to the demon. Five more demons are thrown into the sand to signify that the city has got rid of the demons.

At the end of the festival, there is an exchange of greeting between the King and Khempo and other monks. The peoples of Mustang express their great luck and fortune at being able to witness yet another Tiji Festival and they pray that many more good years follow.

Itinerary

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  • Accommodation Hotel
  • MealsFree
  • Max Altitude1340m.

Preparation for the trek permit, as the upper mustang and Nar Phu valleys are the restricted area and Briefing for the Saribung peak expedition at department of tourism, afternoon preparation and final check the equipment.

 

  • Accommodation Hotel
  • MealsB
  • Max Altitude1340m.

Kathmandu- Pokhara highway (prithivi highway) is 200km long, we follow the Trishuli River up to Mugling and we follow the Marshyandi River up to Dumre to the North West direction and reach to the pokhara. We can have chance to see the adventure of rafting floating over Trishuli River. We stop for the lunch on the way Kathmandu to pokhara. We conduct short sightseeing tour of Pokhara valley.

 

  • Accommodation Hotel
  • MealsBLD
  • Max Altitude900m.

Wake up early in the morning and depart to Jomsom by flight; the flight is very impressive between the Annapurna and Dhaulaghiri. The village of Jomsom and its Tibetan architecture will attract us. The wind blow strong in the bed of the Kali Gandaki River so, Walking in the windy and the dusty atmosphere we reach to the oasis of Kagbeni which is the gate of upper Mustang. We will Visit the monastery of the village.

 

  • Accommodation Lodge
  • MealsBLD
  • Max Altitude2700m.

Check our special permit at check point in Kagbeni before entering Upper Mustang. We will transfer by jeep to avoid the dusty gravel road along the Kaligandaki riverbank up to Chhuksang. The road gradually ascends to Chele, Ghiling, and Ghami. During the journey, you can descend to visit various monasteries and Chortens. Additionally, you will be treated to incredible views of the Nilgiri range and Tilicho peaks (7135m) from Nyi La Pass (4000m) and along the way up to Ghami.

 

 

  • Accommodation Lodge
  • MealsBLD
  • Max Altitude3520m.

The path leads us up towards the high plateau over Morangla Pass (4125m), offering a magnificent view of the Mustang plateau. Moreover, we can explore the red hills and ancient Tibetan houses on the way to Drakmar. Now, the trail gently descends towards Tsarang via Ghargompa and the Marang village.

  • Accommodation Lodge
  • MealsBLD
  • Max Altitude3620m.

Here we follow the burgeoning arid landscape and the way with more Plateaus with undulating  trail. After 4hrs walking we arrive to Lo La Pass (3900m) from where we see the fortified city Lo Manthang dominating the ancient fort and the Tibet in the horizon. Arrive to Lo- Manthang, the royal capital of high Mustang. Get in the Forbidden City. After some refreshment at our lodge and participating in the TIJI Festival

The Festival begins in the morning with the assembly of monks and offerings of Vajrakila prayers in Chode Gompa. The afternoon sees a flurry of activity in the square. Amidst the blare of traditional among copper horns or dungchen and the beating of drums and cymbals, an enormous scroll painting or Thanka depicting Padmasambhava is deployed on the south wall of the square. Chanting of hymns and offering of prayers the masked dances begin, 52 different forms of steps are performed by a verbal command of Tsowo. To the untrained eye such subtle changes and steps are seamless.

 

  • Accommodation Lodge
  • MealsBLD
  • Max Altitude3790m

Second day Tiji Festival: The morning begins again with offerings of prayers and the unfurling of another large thangka a near replica of the earlier one. The Masked dances on the second day are more active and are executed in a more aggressive style. The final act is the slaying of the demon. This is depicted by the piercing of the straw effigy by Tsowo with the religious dagger. This symbolizes the evil demon being slayed by the deity Dorje Shunu. The straw effigy is then thrown into the air.

 

  • Accommodation Lodge
  • MealsBLD
  • Max Altitude3790m.

On the third and final day the morning begins again with offerings of prayers to Vajrakila by the monks in the monastery. In the afternoon, Tsowo offers ritualistic offerings of nectar as an appeal for help from all the gods. Before and after the effigy is cut, there are again dances by monks wearing masks depicting animals. Finally the dances come to an end with the formation of raucous procession led by the masked dancers and followed by the King and members of the royal family, representatives of the Rural Municipality of Lo Manthang and the local people. The peoples of Mustang express their great luck and fortune at being able to witness yet another Tiji Festival and they pray that many more good years follow.

(If time permit, you can stroll around and visit the ancient monasteries Thugchen (Grey monastery) and Namgyal (Red monastery), Thinkar (The summer palace) to the western valley and Nyphu, Graphu to eastern valley. For the entire journey it is suggested to hire a horse for each person to visit these valley within the limited time as the sites are at distant places from each other whether you can assist in the festival depending on your interest)

 

  • Accommodation Lodge
  • MealsBLD
  • Max Altitude3790m.

In the morning, the trek continues on the same route taken few days ago. The trail leaves the road and starts to head into the less travelled valleys towards Yara. A gradual drop leads to the Kali Gandaki River and then undulates by the bank of the river to the village of Dhi. After crossing the river, the trek now enters another narrow valley following Puyung Khola and reaches Yara.

  • Accommodation Lodge
  • MealsBLD
  • Max Altitude3700m.

Ascend little from the Yara and walk straight and descend towards GhechangKhola and crossing this river on foot which is quite dangerous. We have picnic instead of lunch after crossing the Ghechang Khola. And ascend up to 4000m pass and descend to Tangye. Tangye is a small village of Tibetan. We will visit Chortens and small Monastries there.

 

  • Accommodation Lodge
  • MealsBLD
  • Max Altitude3350m.

This morning we cross the Punyng Khola and start a gradual climb for an hour or so to a view point where we will have views back at Yara village. From here it is a gradual descent to the Dechyang Khola where we may be lucky enough to spy the beautiful peaks of Nilgiri and Dhaulagiri. After crossing Dhechyang Khola the trail continues towards Tangge.  This is the  longest joureny of ou trek so, you wiil travel with lunch boc today

Your efforts trekking to the lunch spot (4015m) will be rewarded with a feast for the eyes as we savor the views of the Himalayas. After lunch we will descend to a plateau and on to Tanggye, our overnight stop. Overnight lodge

  • Accommodation Lodge
  • MealsBLD
  • Max Altitude3000m

One final stretch to Jomsom to take in the view of this splendid part of the world. Overnight: Camping

 

  • Accommodation Lodge
  • MealsBLD
  • Max Altitude2700m

(If the weather of Jomsom airport is uncertain the flight from Jomsom to Pokhara can be cancelled and you may have travelled by road. The road condition is quite narrow but graveled between Jomsom and Beni which is under construction. Some time you may need to change your vehicles several times.

  • Accommodation Hotel
  • MealsBLD
  • Max Altitude900m.

We take a tourist bus and our journey starts from Pokhara to Kathmandu through Prithivi Highway. We take our lunch on the way.

 

  • Accommodation Hotel
  • MealsBL
  • Max Altitude1340m.
  • Accommodation Hotel
  • MealsB
  • Max Altitude1340m
  • MealsB

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Included
  • Transfer:  Airport / Hotel pick up & drop by private car for demestic airport trasnfer only
  • Flight Kathmandu/ Pokhara/Jomsom/Pokhara/Kathmandu
  • Full board meals during the trekking, accommodation in twin sharing Lodges/tea house.  (Meals can be choose from Menu) (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner + tea/coffee.) (Cold drinks are not included nor hot drinks between three major meals)
  • An Experienced & Professional Government license holder English speaking trained Trekking guide
  • Special trekking permit for Mustang, You are required 2 passport size photos.
  • Entry permit for Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP
  • 4 nights at hotel International Guest House in Kathmandu or Similar category on a twin sharing bed and BB basis.
  •  First aid kit will be available during the trek.
  •  All personal gears and group equipments will be carried by porter i.e. (1 porter per client, one porter carry max 20-25kg).
  • Staffs Insurance.
  •  Domestic airport taxes.
  •  Re-confirmation of Int'l plane ticket

 

Excluded
  • Meal in Katmandu except breakfast (Near about US $  15 – 20 per day/person)
  • Nepal entry Visa Fee (You can obtain a visa easily upon your arrival at Nepal’s Airport in Katmandu). You are required 2 passport size photos.
  • International Airfare and Airport Taxes.
  • Entrance fees in the monasteries (approx 100 Rps each monastery and some of them are important monasteries which can be charged US $ 10 per monastery per head) & horse rental charge during excursion in Lho-Mantang, the horse rental charge would be about 2500Rs per day per horse and if any entrance fee required during the festival
  • Any kind of Alcoholic, hot and cold drinks or bar menu.
  • Personal trekking Equipment, travel and medical insurance & helicopter in case for emergency Rescue evacuation, personal expenses,
  • Any expenses caused by reason beyond our control such as roadblock due to natural climates and accidents and unforeseen events etc…
  • Tips and Gratitude.

 

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