Festivals Overview
Mani Rimdu is the most important festival of the Sherpa people that is held during the tenth lunar month of the Tibetan calendar, corresponding to October–November of the Gregorian calendar. It is also the autumnal trekking season in the region when large groups of international tourists visit the Monastery to witness the festivities that last for nine days. The religious festivities involve ceremonies and meditation (Drupchen). The meaning attributed to “Mani Rimdu” is that ‘Mani’ means “part of the chant of Chenrezig” and ‘Rilbu’ or ‘Rimdu’ means small red pills that are blessed during the festival. The red pills are blessed repeatedly during the festival and then distributed to all those who attend. The festival is a tradition passed on from its mother monastery, the Rongbuk. It begins with an elaborate depiction of the mandala diagram made with coloured sand. This sand is extracted from a specified location in the hills.
The mandala takes four days to draw; it is then covered, and is central to the religious festival that lasts for the next 10 days. The program includes 16 dance numbers with interludes for comical effect. Finally, after all the devotees have left, the monks perform a fire rite to dispel all harm to the world.
Tengboche Monastery (or Thyangboche Monastery), also known as Dawa Choling Gompa, located in the Tengboche village in Khumjung in the Khumbu region of eastern Nepal is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery of the Sherpa community. Situated at 3,867 metres (12,687 ft), the monastery is the largest gompa in the Khumbu region of Nepal. The monastery was built in 1916 by Lama Gulu with strong links to its mother monastery known as the Rongbuk Monastery in Tibet. However, in 1934, it was destroyed by an earthquake and was subsequently rebuilt. In 1989, it was destroyed for a second time by a fire and then rebuilt with the help of volunteers and international assistance.
Tengboche monastery located amidst the Sagarmatha National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site of “outstanding universal value”), is draped with a panoramic view of the Himalayan Mountains, including the well known peaks of Tawache, Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and Thamserku.
Tengboche is also the terminus site of the “Sacred Sites Trail Project” of the Sagarmatha National Park that attracts large number of tourists for trekking and mountaineering. It is a circular trail that covers 10 monasteries in a clockwise direction terminating in the Tengboche Monastery.
The Saga Dawa Festival is the most important religious festival in Tibet. It celebrates the birth of Buddha, his enlightenment and Parinirvana. This festival falls on the 15th day of the fourth month of the Tibetan Calendar. This is the holiest month in Tibetan traditions.
This is a religious festival. People visit Buddhist temples and offer prayers. They celebrate with the family and the community, and there is a festive atmosphere everywhere. The main event of the festival is the replacing of the huge Tarboche Flag in Mount Kailash. Devotees bring small flags to fix to the big one, and the Tarboche flag is hoisted by a big group of people, including those that have come to witness the festival.
It is a time of pilgrimage to Buddhist temples. The Tarboche Flagpole ceremony is an important event in Mount Kailash, which attracts a huge number of devotees and tourists. They come to participate in the raising of the majestic flag to mark the occasion of Saga Dawa. Many people gather for a festive picnic at the Dzongyab Lukhang Park near the Potala Palace in Lhasa. This picnic has now become a regular feature of the festival.
ITINERARY – SAGA DAWA FESTIVAL INFORMATION – TIBET
Normally in May and June every year – please write to us!
Day 01: Arrive Kathmandu, transfer to hotel. In Kathmandu
Day 02: In Kathmandu- free day to explore Kathmandu own
Day 03: Katmandu – Zhangmu – Nyalam O/N guesthouse
Day 04: Nyalam
Day 05: Nyalam – Saga O/N guesthouse
Day 06: Saga – Paryang O/N guesthouse
Day 07: Paryang – Lake Manasarovar O/N guesthouse
Day 08: Lake Manasarovar – Darchen O/N guesthouse
Day 09: Full day at Tarboche for Saga Dawa Festival- guest house or camp
Day 10: Trek to Drira-Puk (4765m)- Camp
Day 11: Trek to Zuthul-Puk (4700m)- camp
Day 12: Arrive Darchen, drive to Tirthupuri O/N guesthouse
Day 13: Tirthupuri – Tsaparang -O/N guesthouse
Day 14: Tsaparang -visit of Guge Kingdom and Toling Temple O/N guesthouse
Day 15: Tsaparang – Lake Manasarovar O/N guesthouse
Day 16: Lake Manasarovar – Paryang O/N guesthouse
Day 17: Paryang – Saga O/N guesthouse
Day 18: Saga – Nyalam – Zhangmu O/N guesthouse
Day 19: Zhangmu – Kodari – Katmandu, transfer to hotel in Kathmandu
Day 20: In Kathmandu
Day 21: Transfer to airport, depart Kathmandu
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