Tiji Festival Trek 2023 in Mustang brings you a chance of immersing in the rich cultural celebration in the remote region of Lo Manthang in the Himalayas. If you are wondering what this festival is, this blog will shed some insights into it.
The Tiji Festival for the year 2023 is on the 16th, 17th, and 18th of May. Upper Mustang is observing the three-day festival with great dedication and devotion like the previous years. The festival is a rare chance to explore, enjoy and immerse in the ancient cultural tradition of Lo Manthang and you will love it.
What is the Tiji Festival Trek 2023 like?
Tiji is a wonderful cultural and spiritual celebration in the remote Himalayas of Upper Mustang in Nepal. This annual festival observes timeless traditional myths and rituals for three days in Lo Manthang. The unique mountain cultural festival marks the victory of god over a demon. The demon is believed to have been living on human beings and tried to cause storms and drought to destroy life in the region. Lord Buddha incarnated as a ferocious creature to demolish the demon and free the people from its captivity.
The name of the festival is originally Tenji, which is now commonly famous as Tiji. Tenji is a Tibetan word that comes from “Tempa Chhirim” which means “prayer for world peace”. The sole purpose of celebrating this festival is to pray for peace to prevail in the life of the people of the region.
Our Tiji Festival Trek 2023 will take you to Upper Mustang to observe the beautiful cultural celebration.
The story behind the Festival
The festival is based on the Tibetan Buddhist myth. According to the belief, the legendary incarnation of Buddha, Dorjee Sonnu, fought the demon called Man Tam Ru, to save the whole region from destruction. This three-day-long festival has a performance that enacts the story of the troubles caused by the demon. The performance shows the birth of Dorje Sonnu and his battle with and victory over the demon. It is a special time of the year when the monks from Choedhe monastery of Lo Manthang organize and perform the show.
Going on a tour during the Tiji festival in Upper Mustang is a great cultural escape. You will have a rare opportunity to explore and immerse in the unique cultural tradition of the Upper Mustang. Tiji festival normally falls in the month of May and this year the special occasion is from 16-18 May.
Tiji Festival Trek 2023 Itinerary
Here is the outline itinerary of the trekking plan for the festival in 2023.
07 May 2023 | Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu
08 May 2023 | Day 02: Kathmandu Sightseeing Tour
09 May 2023 | Day 03: Drive to Pokhara
10 May 2023 | Day 04: Fly to Jomsom and Trek to Kagbeni
11 May 2023 | Day 05: Trek to Chhusang
12 May 2023 | Day 06: Trek to Samar
13 May 2023 | Day 07: Trek to Gheling
14 May 2023 | Day 08: Trek to Dhakmar
15 May 2023 | Day 09: Trek to Lomanthang
16-18 May 2023 | Day 10-12: Tiji Festival Observation
19 May 2023 | Day 13: Trek to Tsarang
20 May 2023 | Day 14: Trek to Samar
21 May 2023 | Day 15: Trek to Kagbeni
22 May 2023 | Day 16: Trek to Jomsom
23 May 2023 | Day 17: Fly to Pokhara
24 May 2023 | Day 18: Drive to Kathmandu
25 May 2023 | Day 19: Departure Day
You can go on the Upper Mustang Trek and add three additional days for the festival celebration in Lo Manthang. Or you can also take an Upper Mustang Jeep Tour with additional three days in Lo Manthang to enjoy the festival if you want to do it in fewer days.
In addition to the beautiful trekking adventure, this trip brings an exceptional and rare cultural experience. You can also enjoy breathtaking mountain views, beautiful landscapes, a blue skyline, wall caves, and beautiful settlements along the route.
Let us know if you want to join the Tiji Festival Trek 2023.
