Tiji or Teji festival is the annual event of the indigenous community of Upper Mustang in the Lo-Manthang region of Nepal. Mustang Tiji festival is a celebration and reaffirmation of the myth of the 3 days ritual festival meaning “the chasing of the demons”. It tells the story of the deity of Dorje Jono, who battled against the demon to save the Mustang Kingdom from destruction. He defeated the demons and banished the demon from the land caused by storms and drought that destroy peoples’ houses and livestock and translated into prayer for world peace. There will be dance performances by monks on these 3 days of ritual festival namely “Tsa Chham” on the first day, “Nga Chham” on the second day, and “Rha Chham” on the third day. It is believed that the village will be purified from the bad evil spirits from then. Tiji festival falls on the 27th to 29th days of the third month according to the Tibetan calendar (April/May of every year). It is organized by Chhyode Gumba which is a monastery of the Sakyapa sect located in Lo-Manthang. The festival is timed to coincide with the end of the dry season (late winter/spring) and ushers in the wetter monsoon season.
Mustang Tiji Festival Trek Highlight Overview
- Participant: Three days annual Historical Buddhist Tiji Festival.
- Trekking along the wild and picturesque terrain and barren of Upper Mustang
- Explore the walled City of Lo-Manthang known as the forbidden kingdom.
- Visit Historical Chosar Cave and monasteries located close to the Tibet Border.
- Visit 0ne of the ancient monastery Ghar Gumpa built in the eighth century.
- Ruins of Charang village old Buddhist monastery and breathtaking landscapes.
- Tradition villages, peoples with own preserved culture and remote sections of Nepal untouched by any kind of modernization