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The Tiji Festival Trek held yearly in the walled city of Lo-Manthang on the occasion of Tiji Festival is a unique journey which takes us the right to the heart of the local culture in Upper Mustang which has been passed down from generations to generations carefully preserved from the trappings of the modern society. Celebrated often on the end of May the festival spans for 3 days and each day is filled with auspicious rituals and dances which are often said to clear away all the obstacles in the life of those who observe with respect and faith. In the midst of the airy dry landscape, the city so beloved by the mountains is adorned with bright colors for the festival which we will remember for years to come.
Our unique journey combining the religious and cultural heritage begins from Kathmandu from where we head towards Pokhara. From the enchanting city of Lakes, we fly over to Jomsom from where the trek begins to Kagbeni. Through the dry barren landscapes, we begin our trekking heading towards Chele and then onto Syanbochen crossing Chungsi Cave en route. From Syanbochen the rugged trail heads towards Dhakmar before resting at the mesmerizing city of Lo-Manthang on the eve of the Tiji festival. The name Tiji comes from two words "ten" and "che" which translates to mean that one day dharma (god deeds) will prevail all over the world the message carried by Guru Rinpoche thousands of years ago. The ushering of this monsoon festival describes how the deity Dorje Jono had to battle against his own father to save the Kingdom of Mustang. The festival begins and we take part in all of the festivities through the auspicious rituals celebrating the local deities to the dances in the town square performed by locals dressed as demons and slashing at the air with their swords all while performing spells over the onlookers. Celebrating the 3 day festival of Tiji we begin our journey down heading towards Ghami and Samar before finding the sandy banks of Kaligandaki at Kagbeni.
At Nepal Ascent Treks, we value quality and customer satisfaction more than anything else. A well-constructed itinerary and local guides who can explain about the unique rituals and processions of the Tiji festival in detail will make sure your venture to the Upper Mustang will turn into something you will never forget for the rest of your life.
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