Upper Mustang is located at the border with Tibet China and the people of the region originated from Tibet. That is why the culture, tradition, and lifestyle of the Mustangi people are related to the Tibetan. And the Mustang Tiji Festival is one of the cultural and traditional celebrations following their ancestors. It has its own beliefs, style, and values to the celebration at the late forbidden Himalayan kingdom Lo Manthang.
Tiji is the short form of the Tempa Chirim, in the local language it means prayers for world peace. Tiji Festival is an annual festival that will celebrate for 3 days publically in the walled city of Lo Manthang Upper Mustang Nepal. Thousand of people from the whole Mustang region will travel to Lo Manthang to participate in this auspicious celebration. Not only the local people will join in this carnival, but even foreign travelers also join to observe the beauty of Tiji.
Upper Mustang region is the Buddhist kingdom, to reference that there are centuries-old Buddhist monasteries and stupas in each village. It means the Upper Mustang Tiji Festival celebration is directly connected with Buddhism. The oldest Monastery in Upper Mustang is Ghar Gumba, it’s believed that it was built by Guru Rimpoche known as the Padmashamvaba as well. In the 8th century while he was traveling to Tibet via the Upper Mustang.
Tiji Festival Celebration
As a legend regarding the celebration of the Tiji Festival, it said that the bad demon was spreading the deadly disease to the region and creating water shortage in the whole area. And then a good person comes and fights with the scary devil and wins over that harmful evil. Since then this festival started to celebrate in Mustang.
This festival will celebrate for 3 days in Lomanthang Upper Mustang, usually during May. Those three days will perform colorful mask dances by monks and chant the Buddhist mantras. It will be full of people including locals, VIPs, foreign tourists even the king of Mustang at the celebration place. The monks will prepare the dance and they practice it for a long time.
Day 1 of the Tiji Festival Celebration
On day 1 the monks from Chhode Monastery and locals prepare for the festival at the square near Roayl Place. The festival will begin with the sound of the Tibetan horn blow by the monk and then the sound of the other instruments of the Lamas. Then people will gather at the square and a huge Thanka will hang on the wall. And Lamas will perform their chant and various dance form there. This dance form will call Tsa Chham, about the story behind the fighter Dorje Jono’s fight with the demon. Its believe that these dances originated in the 15th century.
Day 2 of the Mustang Tiji Festival
On the second day, also dance and sing and the performance continues, the second day’s dance form is Nga Chham. This dance shows that the warrior Dorje Jono tries to bring evil to the Buddhist world. It’s all various dance form that showcases the importance of Buddhist deities to scatter peace and love to the world. The second day of the festival is the important day and which will perform by the monks in colorful costumes.
Day 3 of the Upper Mustang Tiji Festival celebration – The final day of the festival
On the third day of the Tiji Festival, the monks will conduct a dance called Rha Chham. This dance form will show a sense of victory over the bad. To end the festival, the performance will move from the square to the open place outside the village. While moving from a square to an open area there will be gun shooting, blowing, and playing with various kinds of equipment in front of the huge mass.
Why Tiji Festival Celebrates in Mustang?
The Tiji Festival will celebrate in Mustang because it is a cultural tradition that has been passed down through generations of the people who live in this region of Nepal. Mustang is a dry region located in the Himalayas, and it was once an independent kingdom. That had close cultural, traditional, and trading ties with Tibet. The Tiji festival is celebrating in this region for centuries and is an important part of the local culture and tradition.
This remarkable festival is celebrated to mark the victory of good over evil and is based on a mythological story of a demon named Ma Tam Ru Ta who caused havoc in the region, causing drought and famine. A saint named Dorje Jono was believed to have fought and defeated the demon, and the festival celebrates his victory.
The Tiji Festival is unique to the Mustang region and it does not celebrate in other parts of Nepal. The festival is an important cultural event for the people of Mustang, and it attracts visitors from all over the world who are interested to learn about the rich cultural heritage of the region. This festival provides an opportunity for the people of Mustang to come together and celebrate their shared cultural traditions and history.
When will the Tiji Festival Will Celebrates?
Tiji Festival is a three-day annual event will celebrate in the Lo Manthang region of Upper Mustang in Nepal. The Festival usually falls in late May or early June, depending on the Tibetan lunar calendar. However, the exact dates for the Festival may vary each year, as it depends on the lunar cycle.
If you are planning to attend this Festival, it’s best to check the specific dates with a local travel agency for the latest information. They can provide you with the most up-to-date information and help you plan your trip accordingly.
The upcoming dates of the Mustang Tiji Festival are as follows.
2023 Tiji Festival dates are the 16th, 17th, and 18th of May
The 2024 Tiji Festival dates are the 5th, 6th, and 7th of May
The 2025 Tiji Festival dates are the 24th, 25th, and 26th of May
Overall, the Mustang Tiji Festival is a cultural celebration that takes place in Lomanthang Upper Mustang for 3 days. This Festival is a popular event that attracts tourists from all over the world. Who come to witness the unique cultural traditions of Upper Mustang Nepal. It is a fascinating and colorful celebration that offers a glimpse into the rich history and traditions of the people of Mustang.
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