Mustang Tiji Festival

The land of "Lo". Remote and forbidden to travelers for centuries is now open to trekkers. Your journey begins with a late afternoon flight to Pokhara followed, the next morning, by a flight to Jomsom. From here the trail leads along the left bank of the Kali Gandaki river through the villages of Kagbeni, Chusang, Samochin and Charang to the walled capital of Mustang - Lomanthan.

The Tiji festival which is held in Lo Manthang every year is a three-day ritual known as "The chasing of the Demons" that focuses on the Tiji myth. The myth tells of a deity named Dorje Jono who must battle against his demon father to save the Kingdom of Mustang from destruction. The demon father wreaked havoc on Mustang by bringing a shortage of water (a highly precious resource in this very dry land) and causing many resulting disasters from famine to animal loss. Dorje Jono eventually beats the demon and banishes him from the land. Tiji is a celebration and reaffirmation of this myth and throughout the festival the various scenes of the myth will be enacted. It is of course timed to coincide with the end of the dry winter/spring season and will usher in the wetter monsoon season (the growing season for Mustang). Tiji comes from the word "ten che" meaing 'the hope of Buddha Dharma prevailing in all worlds' and is effectively a spring renewal festival.

This trip also gives you the opportunity to go where few have been before. Most of the trek keeps to arid, high deserts inhabited mostly by people of Tibetan stock. The men folk are either traders or farmers while the women mostly tend the fields. Along with insights into the everyday lives of the people of "Lo" you will have the opportunity to witness their vibrant culture and also a chance to get a look at Lamaist Buddhism little changed by time.