Yartong is one of the biggest festivals in Manang celebrated in summer.

It is also known as a horse- racing festival or Gora Jatra in Nepali language. On this day all the Male Members of every family get their horses and embellish them with ornaments and wear clean cultural dresses themselves. 

This festival kicks off as everyone gathers at a point and heads towards a monastery together on horses by singing traditional songs.

In Khangsar Village, every male member gathers and heads towards Tasrab monastery(one of the oldest monastery in Manang district) and they light lamps and offer khatas which is a white scarf used extensively in Tibetan Buddhist tradition, whereas women and children await them in the old khangsar village, where all male members are expected to reach there all the way from Tasrab monastery and before they enjoy special feast there, they show off their horse riding skills, racing each other and sing songs and dance.

This festival goes on for five long days. It is said this festival is celebrated for expressing their gratitude towards triple gems and other deities for in the wake of their blessings they had good crops and peace in the village. 

The name of this festival 'Yartong' might have occurred from the timing of this event. As it is celebrated in Summer. In Tibetan language Yar means summer and Tong  is a verb which usually means to send, but it changes meaning in regards to its preceded word, so over here it means celebrate. Hence, I assume the term Yartong is emerged out of the season.