Tiji Festival Mustang
Tiji Festival – The most popular and important festival in the Mustang valley that celebration 3 days in the court yard of Lo-Manthang City that follow 14th century Tibetan ritual tradition and represent various myth of Buddhism.
Tiji Festival celebrate in the victory of Lord Buddha incarnation Dorjee Sonnu over a demon call Man Tam Ru a vicious creature feeding on the human being. Tiji, the name is an abbreviation of the word Temba Chirim,’ which means Prayer for World Peace. The festival celebration till 3 days in Lo Manthang area around the May/June month. Every the festival date are changed as per Tibetan Lunar Calendar. Group of monks from Choedhe Monastery (Which is insight the Lo Manthang City) perform ritual mask dance with various faces beginning of the festival period which called Tsa Chham dance. Monks represent demon face parade dance in the second day that called Nga Chham and attempt the return of the demon to lord Buddha’s realm are enacted during the performance in third and last day.
The monks dance managed by another big monastery of Mustang which called Choedhe Monastery that belong to Shaya Buddhism. The monastery lead by a Rimpoche and about 60 monks living there and getting Tibetan Buddhism classes from the Upper Lo Manthang Area called Chhosyer and Nhenyul.
Among the tourist and traveler (Domestic and International ), the festival is one of most popular destination in Nepal. Since 2011, reach to Mustang City was possible only by trekking and horse riding or chopper flight. But, now a days the road access till Tibet border and every person can reach by off road drive via Jomsom from Pokhara.
Mustang is one of non touristic and special restricted/controlled area for foreigner. Because of open Tibetan border, its natural beauties, landscapes and old monasteries. To enter the upper mustang area, every foreigner most go through registered trek agency with a registered trek guide after getting the special permit.
Kingdom of Upper Mustang is a well known trek route open only from 1992 AD for the visitors. In that time this trek possible with only camping/tent sleeping. Now a days, every village of the trek route, driving route they opened guest houses and offer their traditional comfort accommodation and catering service.
