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For all - culture, history and scenery the Holiday Mountain Treks has made journey for all average people and fixed the date of the trip at an affordable price. Please reserve your place on time since there will be allowed only limited numbers of people to visit this wonderful place.
All about festival
The Tiji festival is a three-day ritual known as "The chasing of the Demons" that centers 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.
The three days of TIJI
Day One
Early in the afternoon, horns resounded, announcing the two twelve-foot copper dunchens, with their elephantine blurting, followed by two double-reeled horns, all accompanied by drum and cymbals.
Next, an ancient and enormous tanka three stories high was unrolled down the entire south wall of the square. The thanka portrayed Padma Sambhava or (Guru Rimpoche) who brought this ceremony to Tibet in the 8th century."
At mid-afternoon, in high wind and blowing dust, eleven lamas in maroon and gold, wearing high red hats, came from the palace and took their places along the wall beneath the thanka, with Tashi Tenzing on the elevated seat just in the center.
As the monks and lamas commence chanting, twelve more monks come from the palace in maroon and royal blue and glittering gold brocade, with cymbal-shaped hats decked with upright peacock plumes. Soon they withdraw, to be replaced by the masked dancers who" start the portrayal of the Tiji myth.
Dorje Jono repels the demon through the power of his magical dancing — he dances fifty-two separate dances, one of them in ten different bodies, each with a different head. As the dances end, Dorje Jono kills the demon, after which his people are relieved of their plague of misfortunes, water becomes plentiful once more, and the balance and harmony of existence are restored.
Day Two
On the second day of Tiji, numbers of Loba have arrived from the outlying hamlets, and the small square is thronged with wild beautiful people, with all of the women and children, at least, in traditional dress.
The King of Mustang, "wears a whole crown of tiny river pearls set off by dozens of large red coralline tones interspersed with matched ornaments of turquoise.
The costumes and masks, the twelve-foot horns, the gold cups of wheat, the butter cakes, the snow peaks and wind and dust and sun, the mehti, snow leopard, snow pigeons, saligrams, the dying glacier and the desert ruins, the drunks and rajas and foreigners, the dogs and yaks. Tantra!
Day three
On the third day, Tiji ends with the ceremonial destruction of the evil remains, represented by some long black yak hair and red torma cakes minced to a dark red gurry. The demons red remnants are set out on an old tiger skin, where-upon they are attacked by bow and arrow, slings, and the old guns. The poor devils remains are over- turned upon the ground, each time to a wild cannonade from the old muzzle-loaders and a wave of cheers and smoke.
About Mustang
A Kingdom within a Kingdom, Mustang's wealth was derived from its position on the Kali Gandaki / Thak Khola trade route to Tibet, the region still retains its own King is a fantastic square-walled town. Forbidden to foreigners until 1992 Mustang remains a controlled region which very few people visit, a deliberate policy of cultural and environmental preservation. Mustang with an average elevation of 13,600ft, remains almost entirely Tibetan in character and appearance. A trek into this fabled Kingdom of Mustang takes us to a kingdom of vast high arid valleys, eroded canyons, stratified rock formations, yak caravans, colorfully-painted mud-brick houses, a barren desert-like appearance and ancient salt-trade routes linked to the high passes of Tibet. Not only beautiful landscape, unique culture but panoramic views of Nilgiri, Annapurna, Dhaulagiri and other soaring peaks, a remote route southeast of Lo Manthang is to explore. A limited number of permits are issued to trekkers each year in order to protect the local Tibetan traditions and the fragile ecosystem. Mustang is a rugged mysterious arid and haunting wilderness region set amid a lunar landscape of wind eroded hills and cliffs. Trekker's destination is the exotic walled city of Lo Manthang the seat of the King. The Kings Palace is surrounded by maize of gompas and private houses all enshrined within the city boundary walls. Unmolested Mustang is frozen in time it remains one of the ultimate journeys ever likely to be made in one lifetime. Although fierce winds, exposed terrain, high altitude and the rigors of the Tibetan plateau make this region a challenging one, the rewards for venturing deep into the Kingdom of Mustang are immense!
Trek Facts
Trek Style: Tented camp (full organize)
Group size: minimum 2 person
Grade: Medium-Hard
Walking hrs: 4-8hrs.
Seasons: May-Oct.
Max alt: 4265m.
Min alt: 2720m. |
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April 24/Day 01: Welcome to Kathmandu 1300m
Arrive Kathmandu airport; welcome and transfer to hotel.
April 25/Day 02: Kathmandu Sightseeing
Sightseeing tour of the interesting surrounding sights of Kathmandu valley.
April 26/Day 03: Kathmandu – Pokhara 975m. drive 6hrs.
Transferred to Pokhara by tourist bus for about 6 -hour drive. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy either doing last minute shopping for the trek or packing your kitty bag for the trek.
April 27/Day 04: Pokhara – Jomsom 2720m. - Kagbeni 2900m. trek 3-4 hrs.
Fly to Jomsom and gentle walk to Kagnebi, the checkpoint of entry to Upper Mustang The Kaligandaki valley here is called the Thakkhola, after the native Thakalis, who are distantly related to the Tibetans.
April 28/Day 05: From Kagbeni trek to Chele 3200m. 6hrs.
April 29/Day 06: From Chele trek to Geling 3510m. 6hrs.
April 30 /Day 07: From Geling trek to Charang 3650m. 5-6hrs.
May 01/Day 08: From Charang trek to Lo Manthang 3910m. 5hrs.
May 02/Day 09: Tiji festival starts and witness of the day first of Tiji and sight visits around
May 03/Day 10: Witness of the day second of Tiji and sight visits around
May 04/Day 11: Witness of the day third of Tiji festival and sight visits around.
May 05/Day 12: Return trek from Lo Manthang to Surkhan 3460m. 5-6hrs.
May 06/Day 12: Trek from Surkhan - Tange 2640m. 6-7hrs.
May 07/Day 13: Trek from Tange - Tetang 3160m. 5-6hrs.
May 08/Day 14: Trek from Tetang- Muktinath 3750m. 6hrs.
May 09/Day 15: Trek from Muktinath – Jomosom 2720m. 5hrs.
May 10/Day 16: Fly back from Jomosom-Pokhara. Rest of the is free for own activities.
May 11/Day 17: Drive Back to Kathmandu .
May 12/Day 18: Rest day at leisure or final souvenir shopping. Join the farewell dinner in the evening with live cultural program hosted by holiday Mountain treks.
May 13/Day 19: Departure transfer to airport for return flight to home.
Cost:
Trekking organize USD1070 per person group joining basis
Special permit fee USD 700 per person
ACAP fee USD 32per person
Flight fares (Pokhara-Jomsom-Pokhara) USD 160 for foreigner and USD 64 for Nepali per person
Trekking cost includes: Full board basis tented camp trekking, hot drinks, ground transportation, guide, sherpa, cook, kitchen helpers, porters, insurance, equipments and other facilities for the staffs, arrival/departure transfer, taxes and other logistic support etc.
Trekking cost excludes: Personal wears & gears, personal nature expenses, emergency rescue cost, cold beverage, mineral water, alcoholic drinks, tips etc.
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